used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
aboardadverbUS /əˈbɔːrd/
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ENEMY.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
an opposing military force
From this reading AN ENEMY.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
exhaustverbUS /ɪɡˈzɔːst/
wear out completely
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
foolhardyadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlhɑːrdi/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
HastingsnounUS /ˈheɪstɪŋz/
United States architect who formed and important architectural firm with John Merven Carrere (1860-1929)
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
HawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
a small worthless amount
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
engage in
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
muffledadjectiveUS /ˈmʌfəld/
being or made softer or less loud or clear
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
not any; not one
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
by chance
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
without speaking
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
stalkingnounUS /ˈstɔːkɪŋ/
a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
not in physical motion
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Not a light showed aboard the little craft--not a human voice was heard.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading _The Hawk_ crept over the still black waters as silently as the night itself.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
in the company of; together with
From this reading _The Hawk_, with Lord Hastings, Jack and Frank and the other few members of the crew, was stalking the foe--no particular foe, perhaps--but any enemy that might be foolhardy enough to show itself.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Now and then the faint exhaust of the engine could have been heard by a keen ear, but the engine was muffled and whatever sound it might make carried but a few yards at most.
