used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
cannonnounUS /ˈkænən/
a large artillery gun that is usually on wheels
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
power to direct or determine
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
convulsiveadjectiveUS /kənˈvʌlsɪv/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
crackedadjectiveUS /krækt/
used of skin roughened as a result of cold or exposure
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
desirableadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/
worth having or seeking or achieving
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
fracturesnounUS /ˈfræktʃərz/
plural of “fracture” — breaking of hard tissue such as bone
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
frameworknounUS /ˈfreɪmwɜːrk/
a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
havocnounUS /ˈhævək/
violent and needless disturbance
From this reading Meanwhile, the havoc increased.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading Meanwhile, the havoc increased.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
and nothing more
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
keelnounUS /kiːl/
a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
main-mast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
engage in
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile, the havoc increased.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
mizzen-mast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The convulsive blows of the cannon had cracked the mizzen-mast, and had cut into the main-mast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
on one occasion
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
pillarsnounUS /ˈpɪlərz/
plural of “pillar” — a fundamental principle or practice
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
move upward
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
splitsnounUS /splɪts/
plural of “split” — extending the legs at right angles to the trunk (one in front and the other in back)
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
upsetverbUS /əpˈset/
disturb the balance or stability of
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was just sea enough to make the accident as bad as possible.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were splits and fractures in the masts, which are set into the framework of the keel and rise above the decks of ships like great, round pillars.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A tempest would have been desirable, for it might have upset the cannon, and with its four wheels once in the air there would be some hope of getting it under control.
