used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
blasphemynounUS /ˈblæsfəmi/
blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
boatmannounUS /ˈboʊtmən/
someone who drives or rides in a boat
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
boilverbUS /bɔɪl/
come to the boiling point and change from a liquid to vapor
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading There seemed some excuse for him, for it was certainly very terrifying.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
ejaculations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
eruptionnounUS /ˌiːˈrʌpʃən/
the sudden occurrence of a violent discharge of steam and volcanic material
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
accept an excuse for
From this reading There seemed some excuse for him, for it was certainly very terrifying.
the point or degree to which something extends
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
set up or found
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
made afraid
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There seemed some excuse for him, for it was certainly very terrifying.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There seemed some excuse for him, for it was certainly very terrifying.
and nothing more
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
prayerfuladjectiveUS /ˈprerfəl/
disposed to pray or appearing to pray
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
ratnounUS /ræt/
any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/
disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
terrifyingadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪɪŋ/
causing extreme terror
From this reading There seemed some excuse for him, for it was certainly very terrifying.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
in or at that place or location
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
precisely as stated
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
volcanicadjectiveUS /vɑːlˈkænɪk/
relating to or produced by or consisting of volcanoes
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
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 A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
at the time that
From this reading We had got away from the shore about half a mile when suddenly there was a terrific sound close to us, and the boat was thrown about just as a rat is shaken by a dog.
which person or people
From this reading To us, who did not understand, it seemed like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption of some kind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The old boatman seemed very much frightened and found his voice to the extent of ejaculations of a prayerful kind, mingled with blasphemy.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading A column of water rose some thirty yards from us and for quite half a minute the sea round us seemed to boil.
