used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/
the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
the event of one object coming closer to another
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
assailantsnounUS /əˈseɪlənts/
plural of “assailant” — someone who attacks
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
barelyadverbUS /ˈberli/
only a very short time before
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
the act of overcoming or outdoing
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
buccaneersnounUS /ˌbʌkəˈniːrz/
plural of “buccaneer” — someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea without having a commission from any sovereign nation
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
bulkheadnounUS /ˈbʌlkhed/
a partition that divides a ship or plane into compartments
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
buttverbUS /bʌt/
lie adjacent to another or share a boundary
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
coveringnounUS /ˈkʌvərɪŋ/
a natural object that covers or envelops
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
fo'c's'le
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
half-dozenadjectiveUS /ˈhæfdʌzən/
denoting a quantity consisting of six items or units
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
hatchverbUS /hætʃ/
emerge from the eggs
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
Howland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
Intrenching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
Jeremy's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/
filled with a great quantity
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
maddenedadjective
marked by extreme anger
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
muzzlenounUS /ˈmʌzəl/
the open circular discharging end of a gun
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
on one occasion
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
and nothing more
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
a course of conduct
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
pistolnounUS /ˈpɪstəl/
a firearm that is held and fired with one hand
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
seizingnounUS /ˈsiːzɪŋ/
small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In desperation he grasped the muzzle in his hand and struck out fiercely with the heavy butt, beating off his assailants time after time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
triggerverbUS /ˈtrɪɡər/
put in motion or move to act
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
tumbledverbUS /ˈtʌmbəld/
past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
a message informing of danger
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
waryadjectiveUS /ˈweri/
marked by keen caution and watchful prudence
From this reading The pistol, covering the only path of attack, made them wary of approaching too close.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading When, finally, a half-dozen jumped forward at once, he pulled the trigger only to find that the weapon had not been loaded.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
at the time that
From this reading When the gang of buccaneers had tumbled down the hatch after Jeremy's cry of warning, Job Howland, barely awake, had leaped to the narrow angle that made the forward end of the fo'c's'le, seizing a pistol as he went.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Intrenching himself behind a chest, with the bulkhead behind him and on both sides, he had kept the maddened crew at bay for several moments.
