used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
AcademynounUS /əˈkæd.ə.mi/
A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
attractverbUS /əˈtrækt/
direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
boomingadjectiveUS /ˈbuːmɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
dismasted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
encourageverbUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒ/
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
divisible by two
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
forecastlenoun
living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
four-pounders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
JulynounUS /ˌdʒuːˈlaɪ/
the month following June and preceding August
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
Lowington
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
a form of address for a man
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
sporadically and infrequently
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
transport commercially
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
solelyadverbUS /ˈsoʊəli/
without any others being included or involved
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
SYLVIA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
the act of using
From this reading On the forecastle of the Academy Ship were two brass guns, four-pounders, intended solely for use in making signals.
usingnounUS /ˈjuːzɪŋ/
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They had never been fired, even on the Fourth of July, for Mr. Lowington would not encourage their use among the boys.
WRECKnounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading THE WRECK OF THE SYLVIA.
but in spite of that
From this reading The booming of a gun was occasionally heard from her, but she was yet too far off to be distinctly seen.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading The people in the dismasted ship had discovered the Young America, as it appeared from the efforts they were using to attract her attention.
