used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
augmentedadjectiveUS /ɑːɡˈmentɪd/
added to or made greater in amount or number or strength
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
a youthful male person
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
bustlenounUS /ˈbʌsəl/
a rapid active commotion
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
determinationnounUS /dɪˌtɜːrməˈneɪʃən/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
in a serious manner
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
envelopedverbUS /enˈveləpt/
past form of “envelop” — enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
every person
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
impededadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpiːdɪd/
made difficult or slow
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
inlandadjectiveUS /ˈɪnlænd/
situated away from an area's coast or border
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
interferencenounUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪrəns/
a policy of intervening in the affairs of other countries
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
lazilyadverbUS /ˈlæzəli/
in a slow and lazy manner
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
linersnounUS /ˈlaɪnərz/
plural of “liner” — (baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
engage in
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
become covered with mist
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/
plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
not any; not one
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
quaynounUS /kiː/
wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
uttered with a trill
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
except for; apart from
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
temporaryadjectiveUS /ˈtempəreri/
not permanent; not lasting
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
trafficnounUS /ˈtræfɪk/
the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
hard to endure
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
tuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An English mist was rolling lazily inland from the sea.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
weather-vane
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The bustle, rattle, and shouting were, in fact, augmented by the temporary interference.
wharfnounUS /wɔːrf/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
which person or people
From this reading Everybody seemed in a hurry, and everybody seemed out of temper, save a boy who lay at full length on the quay and earnestly studied a weather-vane that was lazily trying to make up its mind which way to point.
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading But the activity of the wharf, while impeded, was in no wise stopped.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It half enveloped the two great ocean liners that lay tugging at their moorings in the bay, and settled over the wharf with a grim determination to check, as far as possible, the traffic of the morning.
