used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
at or in the front
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
fishingnounUS /ˈfɪʃɪŋ/
the act of someone who fishes as a diversion
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
and nothing more
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
a person who rules or guides or inspires others
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
engage in
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
NIGHT'SnounUS /naɪts/
possessive form of “night” — the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading ONE NIGHT'S SPORT.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading ONE NIGHT'S SPORT.
positionsnounUS /pəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “position” — the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
an educational institution
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
skiffnounUS /skɪf/
any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
skiffsnounUS /skɪfs/
plural of “skiff” — any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition
From this reading ONE NIGHT'S SPORT.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
carry out
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading His companions eagerly obeyed and the three skiffs slowly crept ahead as if stealing up on a school of fish.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "NOW just imagine that we are really hunting fish," Charley directed, as he shoved his skiff from shore.
at the time that
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
but in spite of that
From this reading But their leader was not yet ready for real fishing and they had proceeded thus but a little ways when he gave the captain the signal for a run.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Take up your positions exactly as I directed and make as little noise as possible with your oars."
