used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
altercationsnounUS /ˌɑːltərˈkeɪʃənz/
plural of “altercation” — noisy quarrel
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/
feeling or showing anger
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
beardedadjectiveUS /ˈbɪrdəd/
having hair on the cheeks and chin
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
plural of “case” — an occurrence of something
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
commencementnounUS /kəˈmensmənt/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
crueltynounUS /ˈkruːlti/
a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
disregardedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsrɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/
not noticed inadvertently
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
at any time
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
favoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
immediately past
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
loggerheadsnounUS /ˈlɑːɡərhedz/
plural of “loggerhead” — a stupid person; these words are used to express a low opinion of someone's intelligence
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the force of workers available
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
mutinousadjectiveUS /ˈmjuːtənəs/
disposed to or in a state of mutiny
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
inflected form of “occur” — come to pass
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
pleasantrynounUS /ˈplezəntri/
an agreeable or amusing remark
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
refinedadjectiveUS /rəˈfaɪnd/
(used of persons and their behavior) cultivated and genteel
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
sulkyadjective
sullen or moody
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
suppositionnounUS /ˌsʌpəˈzɪʃən/
a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered
From this reading In fact, both had been bearded and threatened, and several angry altercations had occurred between them and the crew.
subjected to a physical (or chemical) treatment or action or agent
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
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 Ever since morning, since the commencement of the water trouble, the men had been sulky and mutinous, and both mate and captain had been slightly treated--their orders in most cases altogether disregarded.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were circumstances that favoured this last supposition.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What if he had intended it not as a piece of pleasantry, but an act of refined cruelty?
in the company of; together with
From this reading For the preceding twenty hours he had been at loggerheads with the crew.
