adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/
at or in the front
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
boatnounUS /boʊt/
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
boatsnounUS /boʊts/
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
bownounUS /baʊ/
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the Greeks were undaunted.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
capnounUS /kæp/
a tight-fitting headdress
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
downhaul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
drawverbUS /drɔː/
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
effortsnounUS /ˈefərts/
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
fastadverbUS /fæst/
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
float-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
GiveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
GreeksnounUS /ɡriːks/
plural of “greek” — the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading But the Greeks were undaunted.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
increasedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːst/
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
legsnounUS /leɡz/
staying power
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
mainmastnoun
the chief mast of a sailing vessel with two or more masts
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
matesnounUS /meɪts/
a pair of people who live together
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
neareradverbUS /ˈnɪrər/
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
Ole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
pulledverbUS /pʊld/
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
RebeccanounUS /rəˈbekə/
(Old Testament) wife of Isaac and mother of Jacob and Esau
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
rifleverbUS /ˈraɪfəl/
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
riggedadjectiveUS /rɪɡd/
fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
sailverbUS /seɪl/
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
sailorsnounUS /ˈseɪlərz/
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
sheetnounUS /ʃiːt/
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
smiledverbUS /smaɪld/
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
speedverbUS /spiːd/
move hurridly
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
sprangverbUS /spræŋ/
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
tacklenounUS /ˈtækəl/
the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
topsailnoun
a sail (or either of a pair of sails) immediately above the lowermost sail of a mast and supported by a topmast
From this reading Charley smiled at their efforts, and said, “Give her the topsail, Ole.”
UnableadjectiveUS /əˈneɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
undauntedadjectiveUS /ənˈdɔːntɪd/
unshaken in purpose
From this reading But the Greeks were undaunted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cap at the mainmast head was broken out, and sheet and downhaul pulled flat, amid a scattering rifle fire from the boats; and the _Mary Rebecca_ lay over and sprang ahead faster than ever.
watch-tackle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the Greeks were undaunted.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Unable, at the increased speed, to draw themselves nearer by means of their hands, they rigged from the blocks of their boat sail what sailors call a “watch-tackle.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading One of them, held by the legs by his mates, would lean far over the bow and make the tackle fast to the float-line.
