used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
astonishinglyadverbUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃɪŋli/
in an amazing manner; to everyone's surprise
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
bladesnounUS /bleɪdz/
plural of “blade” — especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
cable'snounUS /ˈkeɪbəlz/
possessive form of “cable” — a telegram sent abroad
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/
past form of “circle” — travel around something
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
CONFIDENCESnounUS /ˈkɑːnfədənsɪz/
plural of “confidence” — freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
Courtenay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
dexterousadjective
skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
brought together in one place
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
jabbered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
the force of workers available
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
wrong in e.g. opinion or judgment
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
paddledverbUS /ˈpædəld/
past form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
parleynounUS /ˈpɑːrli/
a negotiation between enemies
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
purportverbUS /ˈpɜːrpɔːrt/
have the often specious appearance of being, intending, or claiming
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
savagesnounUS /ˈsævədʒəz/
plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
transport commercially
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
that is looked for
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
Suarez
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
tribenounUS /traɪb/
a social division of (usually preliterate) people
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The four men jabbered in astonishingly loud voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONFIDENCES Courtenay was mistaken in thinking that the savages sought a parley.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
at the time that
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
which person or people
From this reading Suarez, who gathered the purport of their talk, explained that they were discussing the best method of attack.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading The canoe was paddled by two women; they changed its course with a dexterous twist of the blades when within a cable’s length of the ship, and then circled slowly round her.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading “The three younger men belong to the tribe which I lived with,” he said.
