adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
BurnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
combineverbUS /ˈkɑːmbaɪn/
have or possess in combination
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
companionwaynounUS /kəmˈpænjənweɪ/
a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
consultationnounUS /ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/
a conference (usually with someone important)
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
crewnounUS /kruː/
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
DEADadjectiveUS /ded/
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
decknounUS /dek/
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/
to double the degree
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
dutiesnounUS /ˈduːtiz/
plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
exchangedadjectiveUS /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒd/
changed for (replaced by) something different
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
guardnounUS /ɡɑːrd/
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
insideadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/
relating to or being on the side closer to the center or within a defined space
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
JohnsnounUS /dʒɑːnz/
United States artist and proponent of pop art (born in 1930)
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
JonesnounUS /dʒoʊnz/
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
LINEnounUS /laɪn/
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/
and nothing more
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
nailverbUS /neɪl/
attach something somewhere by means of nails
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
nonepronounUS /nʌn/
not one, and not any
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
officernounUS /ˈɔːfəsər/
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
Oleson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
portholes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
railedverbUS /reɪld/
past form of “rail” — complain bitterly
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
revolvernounUS /rɪˈvɑːlvər/
a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
secureverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/
get by special effort
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
serviceableadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrvəsəbəl/
ready for service or able to give long service
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
short-handedadjective
inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
Singleton'snounUS /ˈsɪŋɡəltənz/
possessive form of “singleton” — a single object (as distinguished from a pair)
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
stationingverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənɪŋ/
-ing form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
stewardessnounUS /ˈstuːərdəs/
a woman steward on an airplane
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
topnounUS /tɑːp/
the upper part of anything
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
trustnounUS /trʌst/
something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading THE DEAD LINE Mrs. Johns and the stewardess came up late in the afternoon.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/
look attentively
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had railed off a part of the deck around the forward companionway for them, and none of the crew except the man on guard was allowed inside the ropes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading After a consultation, finding the ship very short-handed, and unwilling with the night coming on to trust any of the men, Burns and I decided to take over this duty ourselves, and, by stationing ourselves at the top of the companionway, to combine the duties of officer on watch and guard of the after house.
womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading To make the women doubly secure, we had Oleson nail all the windows closed, although they were merely portholes.
worthlessadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrθləs/
lacking in usefulness or value
From this reading Jones was no longer on guard below, and I had exchanged Singleton’s worthless revolver for my own serviceable one.
