used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was a trying time.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
bubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/
plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
changingadjectiveUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪŋ/
marked by continuous change or effective action
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
drummingnounUS /ˈdrʌmɪŋ/
the act of playing drums
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
eleventhadjectiveUS /ɪˈlevənθ/
coming next after the tenth and just before the twelfth in position
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
flutterverbUS /ˈflʌtər/
move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
fore-foot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
haulingnounUS /ˈhɔːlɪŋ/
the activity of transporting goods by truck
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
ill-temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a trying time.
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
held up in the air
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
MatesnounUS /meɪts/
a pair of people who live together
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
the force of workers available
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
in motion
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
roughedverbUS /rʌft/
past form of “rough” — prepare in preliminary or sketchy form
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was a trying time.
truculencenoun
obstreperous and defiant aggressiveness
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
hard to endure
From this reading It was a trying time.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If the Old Man 'roughed' the Mates, the Mates 'roughed' us, and rough it was.
having passed out of existence
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a trying time.
look attentively
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
accept gladly
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
which person or people
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
windlessadjective
without or almost without wind
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It came in the middle watch, a gentle air, that lifted the canvas and set the reef points drumming and dancing at each welcome flutter, and all our truculence and ill-temper vanished with the foam bubbles that rose under our moving fore-foot.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading All hands were 'on the raw,' and matters looked ugly between the men and Officers, and who knows what would have happened, had not the eleventh day brought the wind.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The night had fallen dark and windless as any, and the first watch held a record for hauling yards and changing sheets.
