used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
additionnounUS /əˈdɪʃən/
a component that is added to something to improve it
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
pleasantly occupied
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
Armitage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
crewsnounUS /kruːz/
plural of “crew” — the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
dustyadjectiveUS /ˈdʌsti/
covered with a layer of dust
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
a quad with a square body
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
Fritz
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
inexperiencedadjectiveUS /ɪnɪkˈspɪriənst/
lacking practical experience or training
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
initialnounUS /ˌɪˈnɪʃəl/
the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
JacksonnounUS /ˈdʒæksən/
English film actress who later became a member of British Parliament (born in 1936)
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/
the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
lickverbUS /lɪk/
beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
full of life and energy
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
modestlyadverbUS /ˈmɑːdəstli/
with modesty; in a modest manner
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
ScoutsnounUS /skaʊts/
plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
spoutverbUS /spaʊt/
gush forth in a sudden stream or jet
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
SquallverbUS /skwɔːl/
make high-pitched, whiney noises
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
stagesnounUS /ˈsteɪdʒəz/
plural of “stage” — any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
be standing; be upright
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
in or at that place or location
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
They're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "They're not so dusty," admitted Mr. Armitage modestly.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
a unit of potential equal to the potential difference between two points on a conductor carrying a current of 1 ampere when the power dissipated between the two points is 1 watt
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was reluctant to "spout" over the merits of the lads he had himself trained.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
weather-boundadjective
delayed or shut in by bad weather
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
weren't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading The Squall "There are worse things than being weather-bound with a crew of Sea Scouts," observed Mr. Jackson that same evening.
but in spite of that
From this reading "I've had inexperienced crews in the old R.N.V.R. days, and managed to lick 'em into shape, and in their initial stages they weren't equal to these lads, yet we had to go to sea with them and stand a chance of knocking up against Fritz in addition."
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
You've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You've a lively lot of lads, Armitage, and they keep you amused, I'm sure."
