used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading ON BOARD THE SLOOP.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
commentnounUS /ˈkɑːment/
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
companionwaynounUS /kəmˈpænjənweɪ/
a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
the appearance conveyed by a person's face
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
the act of discovering something
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
the feelings expressed on a person's face
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
flooringnounUS /ˈflɔːrɪŋ/
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
fumblingadjectiveUS /ˈfʌmbəlɪŋ/
showing lack of skill or aptitude
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
Herc
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
and nothing more
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
fasten with a lock
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
not any; not one
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ON BOARD THE SLOOP.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
removableadjectiveUS /rɪˈmuːvəbəl/
capable of being removed or taken away or dismissed
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
replaceverbUS /ˌriːˈpleɪs/
substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
resumeverbUS /rɪˈzuːm/
take up or begin anew
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
sectionnounUS /ˈsekʃən/
a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
without speaking
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
slidverbUS /slɪd/
inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
SLOOPnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading ON BOARD THE SLOOP.
a person, without saying who
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
in a swift manner
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ON BOARD THE SLOOP.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They had no further opportunity, just then, to comment on their discovery.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
vacatedverbUS /veɪˈkeɪtɪd/
past form of “vacate” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
voicedadjectiveUS /vɔɪst/
produced with vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
at the time that
From this reading Herc had just time to resume his seat on the locker, together with a vacant expression of countenance, when the door was flung open.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For, just as Ned voiced it, somebody could be heard fumbling with the lock on the companionway door.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was the work of an instant for Herc to replace the removable section of the flooring while Ned slid silently and swiftly back into the cabin he had vacated.
