used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
a youthful male person
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
deemedverbUS /diːmd/
past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
DreadnoughtnounUS /ˈdrednɔːt/
battleship that has big guns all of the same caliber
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading WAITING FOR THE END.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
at any time
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading WAITING FOR THE END.
formingverbUS /ˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “form” — create (as an entity)
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
depressingly dark
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
Herc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
Herc's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
impossibilitynounUS /ˌɪmpɔːsɪˈbɪlɪti/
incapability of existing or occurring
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
inundationnounUS /ˌɪnənˈdeɪʃən/
the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
lethargynounUS /ˈleθərdʒi/
a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
mechanicallyadverbUS /məˈkænɪkli/
in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
a collection of objects laid on top of each other
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
reverberatedverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrbəreɪtɪd/
past form of “reverberate” — ring or echo with sound
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
sunkadjectiveUS /sʌŋk/
doomed to extinction
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WAITING FOR THE END.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading An hour had passed since Herc's despairing cry had reverberated through the gloomy cellar.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading Since his vain appeal for help, the Dreadnought Boy had sat, sunk in a sort of lethargy, on the pile of sail.
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
From this reading WAITING FOR THE END.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the instinct of life fighting against despair, for that he could ever escape from his prison Herc had long since deemed an impossibility.
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 As the water grew higher, he had mechanically dragged the heap of canvas closer together, raising it and forming a sort of island above the rising inundation.
