adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
afraidadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The hands were turned up, and all sail made in chase.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
bearingnounUS /ˈberɪŋ/
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
bownounUS /baʊ/
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
brignounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
capstannounUS /ˈkæpstən/
a windlass rotated in a horizontal plane around a vertical axis; used on ships for weighing anchor or raising heavy sails
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
chaseverbUS /tʃeɪs/
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading The hands were turned up, and all sail made in chase.
clearedadjectiveUS /klɪrd/
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
considerablyadverbUS /kənˈsɪdərəbli/
to a great extent or degree
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
contemplativeadjectiveUS /kənˈtemplətɪv/
deeply or seriously thoughtful
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
daylightnounUS /ˈdeɪlaɪt/
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
DutchadjectiveUS /dʌtʃ/
of or relating to the Netherlands or its people or culture
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The hands were turned up, and all sail made in chase.
HardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
HawkinsnounUS /ˈhɔːkɪnz/
English privateer involved in the slave trade; later helped build the fleet that in 1588 defeated the Spanish Armada (1532-1595)
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
knocksnounUS /nɑːks/
plural of “knock” — the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
MennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
nearadverbUS /nɪr/
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
offingnounUS /ˈɔːfɪŋ/
the near or foreseeable future
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
sailverbUS /seɪl/
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The hands were turned up, and all sail made in chase.
sand-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/
only a very short time before
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
signalnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəl/
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
talkverbUS /tɔːk/
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
Texel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
thanksnounUS /θæŋks/
an acknowledgment of appreciation
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The hands were turned up, and all sail made in chase.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
unansweredadjectiveUS /ˌʌˈnænsərd/
not returned in kind
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
vesselnounUS /ˈvesəl/
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
warnounUS /wɔːr/
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We made her out to be a brig of war; and as she altered her course considerably, we had an idea that she was an enemy.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
weathernounUS /ˈweðər/
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading At daylight the next morning we were off the Texel, and could see the low sand-hills; but we had scarcely made them out, when the fog in the offing cleared up, and we made a strange vessel.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We made the private signal, which was unanswered, and we cleared for action; the brig making all sail on the starboard tack, and we following her--she bearing about two miles on our weather bow.
Who's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading We encounter a Dutch brig of war--Captain Hawkins very contemplative near the capstan--Hard knocks, and no thanks for it--Who's afraid?--Men will talk--The brig goes about on the wrong tack.
