used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
ALONEadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
fannedadjectiveUS /fænd/
especially spread in a fan shape
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
fishing-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
gauzenounUS /ɡɔːz/
(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
haggardadjectiveUS /ˈhæɡərd/
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
hoistedverbUS /ˈhɔɪstəd/
past form of “hoist” — raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
jibverbUS /dʒɪb/
refuse to comply
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
luridadjectiveUS /ˈlʊrəd/
horrible in fierceness or savagery
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
the force of workers available
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading The men's haggard faces caught at moments a lurid glow from it.
obscuringverbUS /əbsˈkjʊrɪŋ/
-ing form of “obscure” — make less visible or unclear
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
scudded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
strengthenedadjectiveUS /ˈstreŋθənd/
given added strength or support
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
the rays of the sun
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The sun rose over the land, a thin gauze obscuring it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The red light flashed and died away, and fanned the air as if the wind itself were the sunshine.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The breeze filled the canvas, and for half an hour the jib lay over the side, while the fishing-boat scudded along like a startled bird.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading ALONE ON A WIDE, WIDE SEA The wind strengthened, and the men hoisted sail and began to beat into the island.
