used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading A few were already clambering up the bobstays.
bobstays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few were already clambering up the bobstays.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
clambering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few were already clambering up the bobstays.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
exhaustedly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few were already clambering up the bobstays.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
GUNPOWDERnounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
HogannounUS /ˈhoʊɡɑːn/
United States golfer who won many major golf tournaments (1912-1997)
From this reading "Hogan!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
kickingnounUS /ˈkɪkɪŋ/
a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
the force of workers available
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
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 There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
Mulcher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mulcher!
NERVEnounUS /nɜːrv/
any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
terrorizedverbUS /ˈterəraɪzd/
past form of “terrorize” — coerce by violence or with threats
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
tugverbUS /tʌɡ/
pull hard
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A few were already clambering up the bobstays.
urgentadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrdʒənt/
compelling immediate action
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
VERSUS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
VulcannounUS /ˈvʌlkən/
(Roman mythology) god of fire and metal working; counterpart of Greek Hephaestus
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
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 NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading NERVE VERSUS GUNPOWDER Fifteen minutes later a dozen men were kicking exhaustedly in the water on the port side of the _Vulcan_, shouting in urgent voices for ropes.
whiznounUS /wɪz/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading There was no reply from the utterly terrorized men on the tug, then came the whiz of missiles thrown through the air.
