used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
battering-ram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
exhale hard
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane.
cessationnounUS /ˌseˈseɪʃən/
a stopping
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
foamingadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊmɪŋ/
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
hurricanenounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
mendedverbUS /ˈmendɪd/
past form of “mend” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
not any; not one
From this reading Daylight came, but it brought no cessation of the hurricane.
not one, and not any
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
overwhelmverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelm/
overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
with speed
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
respectsnounUS /rɪˈspekts/
(often used with “pay”) a formal expression of esteem
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
rightedverbUS /ˈraɪtɪd/
past form of “right” — make reparations or amends for
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
move or cause to move back and forth
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
transport commercially
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
hard to endure
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As the sea beat against the ship it seemed like a huge battering-ram trying to knock her to pieces, every blow making each plank shake though none gave way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The hours went by; not one of us thought of breakfast.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Now she plunged her head into an immense hollow, now she rose rapidly to the top of a foaming sea, while the next instant another rolling on threatened to overwhelm us.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Suddenly, during a momentary cessation of the wind, the ship righted, and we flew on before it, though matters in other respects seemed but little mended.
