used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TEMPEST BURSTS UPON US.
a-trembling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
in addition
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
Braave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
bracedadjectiveUS /breɪst/
positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
BURSTSnounUS /bɜːrsts/
plural of “burst” — the act of exploding or bursting
From this reading A TEMPEST BURSTS UPON US.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
to come or go into
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
to an extreme degree
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
an indirect suggestion
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
hissingnounUS /ˈhɪsɪŋ/
a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
hookverbUS /hʊk/
fasten with a hook
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
Imogene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
appealing to the emotions as well as the eye
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
at the same time but in another place
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
not any; not one
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
noisesnounUS /ˈnɔɪzɪz/
plural of “noise” — sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
puff-shaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
free of extraneous elements of any kind
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
ratlinenoun
(nautical) a small horizontal rope between the shrouds of a sailing ship; they form a ladder for climbing aloft
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
sapphireadjectiveUS /ˈsæfaɪər/
of something having the color of a blue sapphire
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
get by special effort
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
seethingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːðɪŋ/
in constant agitation
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
with low volume
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/
shining with brilliant points of light like stars
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
staplenounUS /ˈsteɪpəl/
(usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
make steady
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
TEMPESTnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading A TEMPEST BURSTS UPON US.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
tweakingverbUS /ˈtwiːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “tweak” — pinch or squeeze sharply
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
twinklingnounUS /ˈtwɪŋkəlɪŋ/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A TEMPEST BURSTS UPON US.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A TEMPEST BURSTS UPON US.
precisely as stated
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
at the time that
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
a Caucasian
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I did not, as I had told Imogene, need a second hint to secure my life by night, however it might fall out with me in the day.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
wristnounUS /rɪst/
a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones
From this reading By looking about I met with a piece of ratline stuff which I hid in my cabin, and when the night came I secured one end to the hook of the door, passing the other end through the staple and then making it fast to my wrist; so that, the door being shut, no one could enter without tweaking or straining my arm with such violence as was sure to awake me.
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 The Braave stole along softly, with but little seething and hissing noises about her now that her yards lay braced well in.
yieldedverbUS /ˈjiːldɪd/
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading Meanwhile the fair wind hung very steady, blowing about south, a pleasant breeze that yielded a pure blue sky and small puff-shaped clouds exceedingly white; the sea was also of a very lovely sapphire, twinkling and sparkling in the north like a sheet of silver cloth set a-trembling.
