used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
accidentallyadverbUS /ˌæksəˈdentəli/
without advance planning
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
complyingverbUS /kəmˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “comply” — act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
without stop or interruption
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
cutternounUS /ˈkʌtər/
someone who cuts or carves stone
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
explainingverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
franknessnounUS /ˈfræŋknəs/
the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
IMPRISONEDadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading IMPRISONED.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
Manuel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
patrolsnounUS /pəˈtroʊlz/
plural of “patrol” — a detachment used for security or reconnaissance
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
give money, usually in exchange for goods or services
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
sponging
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
carry out
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is a government cutter which patrols the banks to see that the sponging vessels are complying with the laws.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "Perhaps we could get along without but it does not pay to take chances.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading She may come upon us accidentally any time and it would be awkward explaining why we continued to work without American officers.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "WE need one of you," explained Manuel, with startling frankness.
