used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
aftadverbUS /æft/
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
at or in the front
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
Alan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
commandsnounUS /kəˈmændz/
plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
davitnoun
a crane-like device (usually one of a pair) for suspending or lowering equipment (as a lifeboat)
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
the act of giving
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
half-dressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
momentumnounUS /moʊˈmentəm/
an impelling force or strength
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
reversingverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrsɪŋ/
-ing form of “reverse” — change to the contrary
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
steal goods; take as spoils
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
transport commercially
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
smoking-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A dozen passengers had come from the smoking-room.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
not in physical motion
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
possessing sweep
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
moving very fast
From this reading Captain Rifle was ahead of him, half-dressed, and the second officer was giving swift commands.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He heard running feet, voices, and the rattle of davit blocks, and came up as the starboard boat aft began swinging over the smooth sea.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was fighting, but still swept slowly ahead against the force struggling to hold her back.
at the time that
From this reading The reversing of the engines had not stopped the momentum of the ship when Alan reached the open deck.
