used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
bellowedverbUS /ˈbeloʊd/
past form of “bellow” — shout loudly and without restraint
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
boatswain's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
divisionnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒən/
an army unit large enough to sustain combat
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
gracefullyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪsfəli/
in a graceful manner
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
matesnounUS /meɪts/
a pair of people who live together
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
pokedverbUS /poʊkt/
past form of “poke” — poke or thrust abruptly
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
express in words
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
transport commercially
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
swabverbUS /swɑːb/
wash with a swab or a mop
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The ship had poked her nose out into the open sea by this time, the “Long Island” rising and falling gracefully on an easy swell.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading “Deck division turn out to swab down decks!” bellowed the boatswain’s mate.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What did he say?” questioned Sam.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “I don’t see why those mates cannot talk plain United States.”
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading “I’ll confess that I did not understand a word of it,” answered Dan.
