used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
abreastadjectiveUS /əˈbrest/
being up to particular standard or level especially in being up to date in knowledge
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
acuteadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːt/
having or experiencing a rapid onset and short but severe course
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
from appearances alone
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
betokened
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
commandernounUS /kəˈmændər/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
dividingverbUS /dɪˈvaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “divide” — separate into parts or portions
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
escortnounUS /eˈskɔːrt/
someone who escorts and protects a prominent person
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST VICTIM.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
fleetnounUS /fliːt/
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
GlasgownounUS /ˈɡlæskoʊ/
largest city in Scotland; a port on the Clyde in west central Scotland; one of the great shipbuilding centers of the world
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
an old word meaning “to this place”
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
mosquitonounUS /məˈskiːtoʊ/
two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
motorboatnounUS /ˈmoʊtərboʊt/
a boat propelled by an internal-combustion engine
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
in motion
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
and nothing more
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
SawyernounUS /ˈsɔːjər/
one who is employed to saw wood
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
sectionsnounUS /ˈsekʃənz/
plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
steamedadjectiveUS /stiːmd/
cooked in steam
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
steamshipnounUS /ˈstiːmʃɪp/
a ship powered by one or more steam engines
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
in a swift manner
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST VICTIM.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
an old word meaning “to that place”
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/
United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
unitsnounUS /ˈjuːnəts/
plural of “unit” — any division of quantity accepted as a standard of measurement or exchange
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading As the steamship _Glasgow_ drew nearer, the signs of activity among the various units of the motorboat fleet became more acute.
an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance
From this reading THE FIRST VICTIM.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
at the time that
From this reading When the big steamship had steamed past, the ten little boats fell into line behind her, moving swiftly forward, two abreast.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The little craft darted hither and thither, finally dividing into two sections, one section on each side of the channel through which the _Glasgow_ steamed toward them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Apparently the commander of the _Glasgow_, Captain Sawyer, had been informed that he was to be provided with an escort, for only the fluttering of a few signal flags from the _Glasgow_ and from the motorboat _Lion_, which carried Lieutenant Commander Thompson, in charge of the mosquito fleet, betokened a greeting.
