used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
Extreme physical or mental suffering; intense anguish.
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
broadsides
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
cheeringnounUS /ˈtʃɪrɪŋ/
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
crashingadjectiveUS /ˈkræʃɪŋ/
informal intensifiers
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
expediteverbUS /ˈekspɪdaɪt/
speed up the progress of; facilitate
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
the act of departing
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
groansnounUS /ɡroʊnz/
plural of “groan” — an utterance expressing pain or disapproval
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
happilyadverbUS /ˈhæpəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
cause to move by striking
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
midwayadjectiveUS /ˈmɪdweɪ/
equally distant from the extremes
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
plural of “movement” — a change of position that does not entail a change of location
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
as might be expected
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
not one, and not any
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
planksnounUS /plæŋks/
plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
scatteringnounUS /ˈskætərɪŋ/
a small number (of something) dispersed haphazardly
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
shrieksnounUS /ʃriːks/
plural of “shriek” — sharp piercing cry
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
splintersnounUS /ˈsplɪntərz/
wood in small pieces or splinters
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
dependable
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
thunderingadjectiveUS /ˈθʌndərɪŋ/
sounding like thunder
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
unwillingadjectiveUS /ənˈwɪlɪŋ/
not disposed or inclined toward
From this reading We had naturally stopped midway on the ladder for unwilling slaves as we were, we lacked a motive to expedite our movements.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
the topmost one of two
From this reading As we at length gained the upper deck a sound of cheering struck on our ears, but it came from the other ships.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Just as we were going up the ladder two thundering broadsides sounded in our ears, and several shot, crashing through the stout planks and scattering splinters in every direction, passed close to our heads, but happily none of us were hit.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Then there came what truly seemed an awful silence.
people who are wounded
From this reading They were followed by the groans and shrieks of the wounded as they lay struggling on the deck in their agony.
