used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
channelsnounUS /ˈtʃænəlz/
official routes of communication
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
the act of working out the form of something (as by making a sketch or outline or plan)
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
gasolinenounUS /ˈɡæsəliːn/
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 STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
gunboatsnounUS /ˈɡʌnboʊts/
plural of “gunboat” — a small shallow-draft boat carrying mounted guns; used by costal patrols
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
half-dismantled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
harborverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
linersnounUS /ˈlaɪnərz/
plural of “liner” — (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
the force of workers available
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
PERILSnounUS /ˈperəlz/
plural of “peril” — a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
affix in a public place or for public notice
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
ricketyadjectiveUS /ˈrɪkəti/
inclined to shake as from weakness or defect
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
rottingnounUS /ˈrɑːtɪŋ/
(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
RussiannounUS /ˈrʌʃən/
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
STARTLINGadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading "Watch your step!"
successive (without a break)
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
thirty-ton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/
United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
threadedadjectiveUS /ˈθredɪd/
(of bolts or screws) having screw threads
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
VladivostoknounUS /vˌlædɪˈvɔːstɑːk/
a seaport in the Asian part of Russia
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
warshipsnounUS /ˈwɔːrʃɪps/
plural of “warship” — a government ship that is available for waging war
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
look attentively
From this reading "Watch your step!"
water-front
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading Straight to a rickety wharf they made their way.
at the time that
From this reading Hardly had they thrown a line over a swaying post when two men sprang across the narrow space.
in or at the place that
From this reading STARTLING PERILS In the harbor at Vladivostok a thirty-ton gasoline schooner threaded its way through narrow channels left by ocean liners and gunboats toward a deserted water-front where half-dismantled warships of ancient Russian design lay rotting in the sun.
which person or people
From this reading It was Johnny Thompson who spoke.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Watch your step!"
