Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

look forward to the probable occurrence of

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

a youthful male person

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

plural of “cargo” — goods carried by a large vehicle

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

past form of “cart” — draw slowly or heavily

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

plural of “cask” — the quantity a cask will hold

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

a natural object that covers or envelops

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

having lost your job

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

every person

From this reading Everybody talked ships and oil.

being the right size and shape to fit as desired

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

plural of “gear” — a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

apprehended with certainty

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the act of making something (a product) from raw materials

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

information about recent and important events

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

not any; not one

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

A viscous liquid derived from petroleum or plants, stored in large earthen jars.

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

the largest ocean in the world

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

express in words

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading Everybody talked ships and oil.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Everybody talked ships and oil.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plural of “truck” — an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling

From this reading Great casks of oil were arranged in rows on the wharves; those that were sold were carted off on curious old trucks called gears, and those that were to await a better market were given a thick covering of seaweed.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

plural of “voyage” — an act of traveling by water

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

-ing form of “whale” — hunt for whales

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The wharves were then busy places; there vessels were “fitted”, as they used to say, and sent out on their long voyages; other vessels returned and discharged their cargoes.

at the time that

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading When I was a boy, New Bedford was not, as it is now, a great manufacturing city, but the best known and largest whaling port in the world.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading One would hear people say, “The _Janet_ is reported in the Indian Ocean, clean,” that is, had taken no oil; “The _Adeline_ is heard from in the Pacific, having made a ‘good cut’,” that is, had taken a lot of oil; “There is news from the _Marcella_ from the other side of land, having done well.”