used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
after-guns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
boatswainnounUS /ˈboʊtsweɪn/
a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
bowspritnoun
a spar projecting from the bow of a vessel
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/
not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
without stop or interruption
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
diminishingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/
becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
fearfullyadverb
in fear
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
FrenchmennounUS /ˈfrentʃmen/
plural of “frenchman” — a person of French nationality
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
Frenchmen's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
obtain
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
gammoning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
hawsernoun
large heavy rope for nautical use
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
lashingsnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋz/
a large number or amount
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
maindeck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
matesnounUS /meɪts/
a pair of people who live together
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
not any; not one
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/
past form of “range” — change or be different within limits
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
only a very short time before
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
securedverbUS /sɪˈkjʊrd/
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
in the near future
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
Thisbe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading All this time the "Thisbe's" two after-guns on the maindeck kept thundering away at them, fearfully diminishing their numbers.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
at the time that
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Frenchmen had scarcely retreated from their daring attempt to board the frigate, when the lashings which secured their bowsprit to her began to give way.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Now the lashings may go as soon as they like!" he exclaimed, almost breathless with the exertion; "the Frenchmen will gain little by the change."
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boatswain had, however, got a hawser ready ranged along the deck, and this, in spite of the fire kept up at them, he, with his mates and others of the crew, secured to the gammoning of the Frenchmen's bowsprit.
yieldingadjectiveUS /ˈjiːldɪŋ/
inclined to yield to argument or influence or control
From this reading And thus the fight continued: they made, however, no signal of yielding.
