used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
anew
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
fear resulting from the awareness of danger
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
buoyverbUS /ˈbuːi/
float on the surface of water
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
chemicaladjectiveUS /ˈkeməkəl/
relating to or used in chemistry
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
conningverbUS /ˈkɑːnɪŋ/
inflected form of “con” — deprive of by deceit
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
contrivancenounUS /kənˈtraɪvəns/
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft.
destroyernounUS /dɪˈstrɔɪər/
a small fast lightly armored but heavily armed warship
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
diminishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
impaired by diminution
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
divisible by two
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
glimpsedverbUS /ɡlɪmpst/
past form of “glimpse” — catch a glimpse of or see briefly
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
destroyed or killed
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
Ned's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
roaredverbUS /rɔːrd/
past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
term of address for a man
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
slowingnounUS /ˈsloʊɪŋ/
a decrease in rate of change
From this reading Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
move hurridly
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
stilledverbUS /stɪld/
past form of “still” — make calm or still
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading “The life buoy!” came a sharp shout from the conning tower.
vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
look attentively
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Already, such was the speed of the destroyer, the blue flame of the chemical buoy showed some distance astern--now glimpsed on the top of a wave, now vanishing altogether.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Waves began to hammer viciously at the slowing craft.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But even as Ned’s heart, which had stilled for an instant--or so he imagined--at the shout of alarm, began to beat again, the speed diminished.
belonging to which person
From this reading “Gone away, sir!” roared back the sailor whose duty it was to watch the contrivance.
