used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
the act of breaking something
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
foamingadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊmɪŋ/
emitting or filled with bubbles as from carbonation or fermentation
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
heapsnounUS /hiːps/
a large number or amount
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
not accessible to view
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
mountainousadjectiveUS /ˈmaʊntənəs/
having hills and crags
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/
plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading THE STORM.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading All they could see of it was its swaying palms for its beach was hidden by the foaming breakers.
swirlingverbUS /ˈswɜːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORM.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AS they gazed around them, our little party could not help but realize the peril of their situation.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading To the east of them some three miles distant was the shore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To the west, about a mile from the drifting launch, was the reef over which the mountainous waves were breaking in heaps of swirling foam.
