used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
abandonedadjectiveUS /əˈbændənd/
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
being joined in close association
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
blindlyadverbUS /ˈblaɪndli/
without seeing or looking
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
cleanlyadverbUS /ˈkliːnli/
smoothly and without difficulty; precisely and deftly
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
the act of discovering something
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
set up or found
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
gaffnounUS /ɡæf/
a sharp metal spike or spur that is fastened to the leg of a gamecock
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
destroyed or killed
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
hookedadjectiveUS /hʊkt/
curved down like an eagle's beak
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
hullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
indicatedverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtəd/
past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
mainboom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
mainmastnoun
the chief mast of a sailing vessel with two or more masts
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
engage in
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
being perceived or observed
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
uttered with a trill
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
except for; apart from
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
ScramblingverbUS /ˈskræmbəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “scramble” — to move hurriedly
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
shroudsnounUS /ʃraʊdz/
plural of “shroud” — a line that suspends the harness from the canopy of a parachute
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
smugglersnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlərz/
plural of “smuggler” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
not in physical motion
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
tacklenounUS /ˈtækəl/
the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
tangledadjectiveUS /ˈtæŋɡəld/
in a confused mass
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was evident that the crew had made some attempt to save the vessel before they abandoned her.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading A GRIM DISCOVERY Frank had some difficulty in getting about the vessel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The mainboom had disappeared, though the broken gaff and part of the sail were still attached to the hull by a mass of tangled gear.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
whippedverbUS /wɪpt/
inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading She was rolling wildly and loose ropes and blocks whipped blindly to and fro, but he noticed that the boat had gone, and the cleanly severed shrouds indicated that her mainmast had been cut loose after it had fallen over the side.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Scrambling forward he found the anchor lying still hooked to a tackle and half secured with its arms upon the rail, which suggested that the smugglers had sailed in haste and had been kept too busy afterward to make it fast.
