used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
anew
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading At last it was broad day, and an order was given to wash down the decks.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
an unofficial association of people or groups
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading At last it was broad day, and an order was given to wash down the decks.
bucketnounUS /ˈbʌkət/
a roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
chainsnounUS /tʃeɪnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
DECKSnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
drowsyadjectiveUS /ˈdraʊzi/
half asleep
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
expertnessnoun
skillfulness by virtue of possessing special knowledge
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading At last it was broad day, and an order was given to wash down the decks.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
handspikenoun
a metal bar (or length of pipe) used as a lever
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
HELPSnounUS /helps/
plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
immediately past
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
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 great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At last it was broad day, and an order was given to wash down the decks.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
a strong line
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
sermonnounUS /ˈsɜːrmən/
an address of a religious nature (usually delivered during a church service)
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
shroudsnounUS /ʃraʊdz/
plural of “shroud” — a line that suspends the harness from the canopy of a parachute
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
sleightnounUS /slaɪt/
adroitness in using the hands
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
a special situation
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
thumpingnounUS /ˈθʌmpɪŋ/
a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects)
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
up to a particular time
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
tubnounUS /tʌb/
a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
precisely as stated
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
WASHverbUS /wɑːʃ/
clean with some chemical process
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
look attentively
From this reading HE HELPS WASH THE DECKS, AND THEN GOES TO BREAKFAST The next thing I knew, was the loud thumping of a handspike on deck as the watch was called again.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
at the time that
From this reading It was now four o’clock in the morning, and when we got on deck the first signs of day were shining in the east.
windlassnounUS /ˈwɪndləs/
lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A great tub was dragged into the waist, and then one of the men went over into the chains, and slipped in behind a band fastened to the shrouds, and leaning over, began to swing a bucket into the sea by a long rope; and in that way with much expertness and sleight of hand, he managed to fill the tub in a very short time.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The men were very sleepy, and sat down on the windlass without speaking, and some of them nodded and nodded, till at last they fell off like little boys in church during a drowsy sermon.
