used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
bitsnounUS /bɪts/
plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
draw air into, and expel out of, the lungs
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
chasmnounUS /ˈkæzəm/
a deep opening in the earth's surface
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
chutenounUS /ʃuːt/
rescue equipment consisting of a device that fills with air and retards your fall
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
cleanernounUS /ˈkliːnər/
a preparation used in cleaning something
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
creepingnounUS /ˈkriːpɪŋ/
a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
detonationnounUS /ˌdetəˈneɪʃən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
draftnounUS /dræft/
a document ordering the payment of money; drawn by one person or bank on another
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
Gerry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
destroyed or killed
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
HullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
hurledverbUS /hɜːrld/
past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
indefiniteadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdefənət/
vague or not clearly defined or stated
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
and nothing more
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
immediately past
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
not any; not one
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
on the contrary
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
cut with a saw
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
transport commercially
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
slantedadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪd/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
steeplyadverbUS /ˈstiːpli/
in a steep manner
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
stiflingnounUS /ˈstaɪflɪŋ/
forceful prevention; putting down by power or authority
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
suckedverbUS /sʌkt/
past form of “suck” — draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
possessing sweep
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
push forcefully
From this reading Ruth called his name, shouting first into the smoke column and then, creeping down to the shell hole in the side, she thrust her head out and gazed at the sea.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A draft sucked the smoke out of the shattered side of the ship over the sea and gave Ruth cleaner air to breathe for seconds at a time.
the topmost one of two
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
at the time that
From this reading Gerry Hull must have been hurled into that chasm when that last detonation blew away the floor; or else he must have flung himself into the sea.
in or at the place that
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The deck floor just beyond her, where he had been, was gone; or rather--as she saw now through the smoke--it slanted steeply down like a chute into a chasm of indefinite depth from which the heavy, stifling smoke was pouring.
made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
WreckagenounUS /ˈrekədʒ/
the remaining parts of something that has been wrecked
From this reading Wreckage from the upper deck--wooden chairs, bits of canvas--swept backwards; she saw no one swimming.
