used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
airsnounUS /erz/
affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was at the full.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The stars and the rising moon gleamed in the smooth, black ripples.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
make calm or still
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
favourableadjective
encouraging or approving or pleasing
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading It was at the full.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The stars and the rising moon gleamed in the smooth, black ripples.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was at the full.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
naphthanounUS /ˈnæfθə/
any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures; used chiefly as solvents
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
not any; not one
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
a purple color or pigment
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
reverienounUS /ˈrevəri/
absentminded dreaming while awake
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading The stars and the rising moon gleamed in the smooth, black ripples.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
without speaking
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The stars and the rising moon gleamed in the smooth, black ripples.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
StanhopenounUS /ˈstænəp/
a light open horse-drawn carriage with two or four wheels and one seat
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
star-filled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading The stars and the rising moon gleamed in the smooth, black ripples.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was calm, and in the purple, star-filled sky the moon was rising.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The naphtha launch was on the river, but it moved silently; current was with it, and the light airs favourable, so there was no need of the engine; one single sail carried the boat easily over the buoyant water.
covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak
From this reading Stanhope sat in the boat thinking, wrapped in a cruel reverie.
