used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading We looked at each other.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
lacking funds
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
the act of burning something
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading We looked at each other.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
firingnounUS /ˈfaɪrɪŋ/
the act of firing weapons or artillery at an enemy
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
God'snounUS /ɡɑːdz/
possessive form of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
HicksnounUS /hɪks/
plural of “hick” — a person who is not very intelligent or interested in culture
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
provided with artificial light
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading We looked at each other.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
odournounUS /ˈoʊdər/
the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading We looked at each other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
pungentadjectiveUS /ˈpʌndʒənt/
strong and sharp
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
a reason for wanting something done
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
cut with a saw
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
tarnounUS /tɑːr/
any of various dark heavy viscid substances obtained as a residue
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “For God’s sake bring the light,” said Hicks.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
thickeradjectiveUS /ˈθɪkər/
comparative of “thick” — not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The noise on deck had almost ceased entirely, but, as we listened, there broke upon our ears the dull boom of a heavy gun.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
at the time that
From this reading Jones did so, and, as its rays lit up the cabin, we saw that the smoke was thicker than when we first stopped firing.
the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
From this reading The peculiar pungent odour of burning tar and wood now became apparent.
