used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
AdvantagesnounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “advantage” — the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
towards the shore from the water
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
barometernounUS /bərˈɑːmɪtər/
an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
CementnounUS /səˈment/
concrete pavement is sometimes referred to as cement
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/
plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
cockpitnounUS /ˈkɑːkpɪt/
compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
commentedverbUS /ˈkɑːmentəd/
past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
Desmond
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
DisadvantagesnounUS /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒɪz/
plural of “disadvantage” — the quality of having an inferior or less favorable position
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
Findlay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
HarbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
hurricanenounUS /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/
a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
mirrornounUS /ˈmɪrər/
polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
and nothing more
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
Paddy'snounUS /ˈpædiz/
possessive form of “paddy” — (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
Padstow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
placidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
plumb-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading Advantages and Disadvantages of Cement "A regular Paddy's hurricane!" commented Desmond as he came on deck next morning.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
tapverbUS /tæp/
cut a female screw thread with a tap
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Findlay, stopping only to tap the barometer, followed his chum into the cockpit.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The smoke from the various chimneys ashore went up as straight as a plumb-line.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sky was clear; the placid waters of Padstow Harbour were as smooth as a mirror.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Not a breath of wind stirred the air.
