used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
afaradverbUS /əˈfɑːr/
(old-fashioned) at or from or to a great distance; far
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
in the past
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
bargesnounUS /ˈbɑːrdʒəz/
plural of “barge” — a flatbottom boat for carrying heavy loads (especially on canals)
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
BeenounUS /biː/
any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/
fill with distaste
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
four-masted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
a long fixed look
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
half-dozenadjectiveUS /ˈhæfdʌzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
not in action or at work
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
MaroonedadjectiveUS /mərˈuːnd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading Marooned!
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
except for; apart from
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
slopesnounUS /sloʊps/
plural of “slope” — an elevated geological formation
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
with low volume
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
possessing sweep
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
in or at that place or location
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hal looked from the idle engine to the green slopes of the island in deep disgust.
tugverbUS /tʌɡ/
pull hard
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Jack swept his gaze up and down the shore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An hour ago there had been a half-dozen sails in sight; now, save for a tug and a line of barges afar out, and a four-masted schooner some five miles southward, not a craft was in sight.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
whistledverbUS /ˈwɪsəld/
past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds
From this reading Bee, leaning against the wheel, whistled softly.
