used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "THE TALE OF A WHALE."
admonishverbUS /ædˈmɑːnɪʃ/
advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
From this reading There was small need to admonish the men.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
battlingverbUS /ˈbætəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “battle” — battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
Dacre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
encouragingadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒɪŋ/
giving courage or confidence or hope
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
imploredverbUS /ˌɪmˈplɔːrd/
past form of “implore” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
a small worthless amount
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
literallyadverbUS /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
the force of workers available
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading There was small need to admonish the men.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "THE TALE OF A WHALE."
any competition
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading There was small need to admonish the men.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading "THE TALE OF A WHALE."
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "THE TALE OF A WHALE."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was small need to admonish the men.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
totemnounUS /ˈtoʊtəm/
a clan or tribe identified by their kinship to a common totemic object
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
vigorouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪɡərəsli/
with vigor; in a vigorous manner
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was small need to admonish the men.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Give way, men!" implored Mr. Dacre anxiously, as the sailors bent to their task vigorously.
WHALEnounUS /weɪl/
a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading "THE TALE OF A WHALE."
whalesnounUS /weɪlz/
plural of “whale” — a very large person; impressive in size or qualities
From this reading The affair had literally become a race for life between the boat and the surging, battling whales.
which person or people
From this reading As they came alongside Jack, who was clinging to the totem, he gave an encouraging wave of the hand.
