Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

farther along in physical or mental development

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

plural of “anchor” — a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

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

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

expected hopefully

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

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

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

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

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

plural of “cable” — a telegram sent abroad

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

make calm or still

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

covered with or as with a canopy

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

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

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

informal intensifiers

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

-ing form of “crumble” — fall apart

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

the occurrence of a change for the worse

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

caused to hear poorly or not at all

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

interchangeable with “means” in the expression “by means of”

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

coming down freely under the influence of gravity

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

possessive form of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “fleet” — group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “fortification” — defensive structure consisting of walls or mounds built around a stronghold to strengthen it

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

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

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

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

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

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

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

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

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

possessive form of “mary” — the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading Night coming on put an end to the attack, and we retired out of range of the enemy's guns.

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

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

propose a toast to

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

in the near future

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “spring” — the season of growth

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

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

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

a special situation

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

sounding like thunder

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

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

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

-ing form of “tow” — drag behind

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

not interfered with, disturbed, or harmed

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

up to a particular time

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

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

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Though frequently struck, we received less damage than I had anticipated, while we soon perceived that the ill-constructed walls of the castle and fortifications were crumbling away from the effect of our shot.

a moral or mental distortion

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

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

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Our progress was slow, but by dint of towing and warping we advanced unmolested, until we reached the harbour of Saint Mary's.

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

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

at the time that

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

during the time that

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The castle, as we were seen approaching, commenced thing, when dropping our anchors, with springs to our cables, we returned the salute with our broadsides.

plural of “wreath” — flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes

From this reading In a few minutes the harbour, which had looked so bright and calm, was canopied by dense wreaths of smoke; the shot came crashing into the sides of the vessels, or splashing into the water, while our ears were deafened by the roar of the guns thundering from the castle and from our own and the corsairs' fleets.