used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
agitationnounUS /ˌædʒəˈteɪʃən/
a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
apprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌæprɪˈhensɪv/
quick to understand
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
Barton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
boardedverbUS /ˈbɔːrdəd/
past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
ensignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
a boy or man
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
forbearverb
refrain from doing
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
involveverbUS /ˌɪnˈvɑːlv/
connect closely and often incriminatingly
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
machinistnounUS /məˈʃiːnəst/
a craftsman skilled in operating machine tools
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
Merritt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
signalsnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
in the near future
From this reading As soon as the anchor dropped, the motor boat's dinghy was drawn up alongside and the ensign and Merritt boarded it.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
stoopingadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpɪŋ/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
carry out
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
express in words
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He could not forbear to take a glance at Barton as the ensign ordered the engines stopped.
a shaky motion
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
VipernounUS /ˈvaɪpər/
venomous Old World snakes characterized by hollow venom-conducting fangs in the upper jaw
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The machinist was stooping over the motor to hide his agitation; but by the trembling of his hands Merritt could tell that the fellow was apprehensive of something that might involve himself.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Half an hour after her start, the _Viper_ glided alongside the island from which Merritt had seen the signals go up the afternoon before.
