used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
aftadverbUS /æft/
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
EmergingadjectiveUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒɪŋ/
coming to maturity
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
fileverbUS /faɪl/
record in a public office or in a court of law
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
set up or found
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading GETTING MY SEA LEGS ON.
hawsernoun
large heavy rope for nautical use
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
joiningnounUS /ˈdʒɔɪnɪŋ/
the act of bringing two things into contact (especially for communication)
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
staying power
From this reading GETTING MY SEA LEGS ON.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
marineadjectiveUS /mərˈiːn/
of or relating to the sea
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
the force of workers available
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading GETTING MY SEA LEGS ON.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading GETTING MY SEA LEGS ON.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading GETTING MY SEA LEGS ON.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
slaverynounUS /ˈsleɪvəri/
the state of being under the control of another person
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
towedverbUS /toʊd/
past form of “tow” — drag behind
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
trampingverbUS /ˈtræmpɪŋ/
-ing form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
precisely as stated
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Emerging very early next morning from the “boys’ house,” I found everything in the bustle and confusion of getting under way.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were towed into the stream and anchored for the night.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading A long file of men were tramping aft with a very wet hawser.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading To look at New York City, with its many lights and its thousands amusing themselves in various ways, from the ship’s deck, without the possibility of joining them, was to feel for the first time the slavery of marine life.
