used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
at or in the front
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
ArcticnounUS /ˈɑːrktɪk/
the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
bergsnounUS /bɜːrɡz/
plural of “berg” — a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
blue-eyedadjective
favorite
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
brieflyadverbUS /ˈbriːfli/
for a short time
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
contentionnounUS /kənˈtenʃən/
a point asserted as part of an argument
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
dangerouslyadverbUS /ˈdeɪn.dʒər.əs.li/
In a way that involves danger or risk.
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
dialectnounUS /ˈdaɪəlekt/
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
drabadjectiveUS /dræb/
lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
EskimonounUS /ˈeskəmoʊ/
a member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia); the Algonquians called them Eskimo (“eaters of raw flesh”) but they call themselves the Inuit (“the people”)
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
fursnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fur” — the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
greasyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːsi/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
groundedverbUS /ˈɡraʊndɪd/
past form of “ground” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
ice-battered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
ice-pack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
inexorableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈneksərəbəl/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
take somebody somewhere
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
offersnounUS /ˈɔːfərz/
plural of “offer” — the verbal act of offering
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
arrange in a container
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
PierceverbUS /pɪrs/
cut or make a way through
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
Self-preservationnoun
preservation of yourself from harm; a natural or instinctive tendency
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
SwedenounUS /swiːd/
a native or inhabitant of Sweden
From this reading The blue-eyed Swede spoke briefly in dialect to the greasy Eskimo.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
tradingnounUS /ˈtreɪdɪŋ/
buying or selling securities or commodities
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
unromanticadjective
neither expressive of nor exciting sexual love or romance
From this reading The trading schooner was drab, ice-battered and unromantic, but her holds carried a fortune in furs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
in or at the place that
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
which person or people
From this reading Self-preservation is not the first law of Nature, according to Mr. Pierce, who knows the Arctic at first hand and who offers this fine story in support of his contention.
wipingverbUS /ˈwaɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading The latter peered ahead where the inexorable drift of the ice-pack was slowly wiping out the blue lead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The shore was dangerously close, piled high with shattered bergs where the pack had grounded.
