used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
(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 A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
relevant relation or interconnection
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
besetverbUS /bɪˈset/
annoy continually or chronically
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
bombnounUS /bɑːm/
an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
boxesnounUS /ˈbɑːksəz/
plural of “box” — a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
bumpsnounUS /bʌmps/
plural of “bump” — a lump on the body caused by a blow
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
DeweynounUS /ˈduːi/
United States librarian who founded the decimal system of classification (1851-1931)
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
Dewey'snounUS /ˈduːiz/
possessive form of “dewey” — United States librarian who founded the decimal system of classification (1851-1931)
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
discernverbUS /dɪˈsɜːrn/
detect with the senses
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
apart from; not including
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
it's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
and nothing more
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
McClure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
the one or ones belonging to the person speaking
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
minesnounUS /maɪnz/
plural of “mine” — excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
missilesnounUS /ˈmɪsəlz/
plural of “missile” — a rocket carrying a warhead of conventional or nuclear explosives; may be ballistic or directed by remote control
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
pillnounUS /pɪl/
something that resembles a tablet of medicine in shape or size
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
RESCUEverbUS /ˈreskjuː/
free from harm or evil
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
move upward
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
Sam'snounUS /sæmz/
possessive form of “sam” — a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
cut with a saw
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
transport commercially
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
submarinenounUS /ˈsʌbməriːn/
a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
surveyingnounUS /sərˈveɪɪŋ/
the practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a map
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
possessing sweep
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
U-boatnoun
a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Swept along thus with the rise and fall of water, one of the floating missiles seemed now bearing down upon the _Dewey's_ port bow.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
vouchsafed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
a message informing of danger
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In response to the warning from the lookout forward, Lieutenant McClure had stopped the submarine and was taking account of the dangers that beset his ship.
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 A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
at the time that
From this reading The sea was running high and it was hard to discern the mines except when they were carried up on the swell of the waves.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
whirlingnounUS /ˈwɜːrlɪŋ/
the act of rotating in a circle or spiral
From this reading Lieutenant McClure saw it just as a huge wave picked up the whirling bomb and carried it closer up toward the submarine.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
Witt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading A RESCUE "If one of them pill boxes bumps us on the water line it's all day with your Uncle Sam's U-boat _Dewey_," vouchsafed Bill Witt as he stood surveying the mine field into which they had stumbled.
