used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
continualadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/
recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
fast-closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/
plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
instrumentnounUS /ˈɪnstrəmənt/
a device that requires skill for proper use
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
latnounUS /lɑːt/
a broad flat muscle on either side of the back
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
provided with artificial light
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
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 "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
mastheadnounUS /ˈmæsthed/
a listing printed in all issues of a newspaper or magazine (usually on the editorial page) that gives the name of the publication and the names of the editorial staff, etc.
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
oilnounUS /ɔɪl/
A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading Reply."
RobinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbənz/
plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
spacesnounUS /ˈspeɪsəz/
plural of “space” — the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading Away into the night sped one continual message.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
SteamshipnounUS /ˈstiːmʃɪp/
a ship powered by one or more steam engines
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading "Steamship _City of Boston_, lat.... long.... lying four points to northward of usual course.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little room was lit by a dull oil light, the door was fast-closed and locked.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
wirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
medium for communication
From this reading Robins, the wireless operator, bent closer over his instrument, and the blue fires flashed from the masthead of the steamer, cutting their way through the darkness into the black spaces beyond.
