used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
airsnounUS /erz/
affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
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 piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
coble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
at any time
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
fitfuladjectiveUS /ˈfɪtfəl/
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
Gervase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
only a very short time before
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
ten 10s
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
engage in
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
with speed
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
substituteverbUS /ˈsʌbstətuːt/
put in the place of another; switch seemingly equivalent items
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
timbernounUS /ˈtɪmbər/
the wood of trees cut and prepared for use as building material
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
in the direction of
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
precisely as stated
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The coble was a poor sea boat and very heavy for its size.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading If he should drift past them it was impossible that he could ever make his way against the current, and he must be carried out to sea.
at the time that
From this reading Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Fortunately the night was clear, and the wind blew in fitful airs, coming from the shore.
of very poor quality or condition
From this reading The piece of timber that Gervase used was a wretched substitute for an oar, and while the tide carried him rapidly down he could see that he made little progress towards the ships.
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 Notwithstanding his utmost exertion the boat hardly seemed to move, and when he looked round it was already two hundred yards from the shore.
