used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
awe-inspiringadjective
inspiring awe or admiration or wonder
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
barknounUS /bɑːrk/
tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
boatswain's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
the two together, not just one
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
a person who is in charge
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/
close interaction
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
a lawyer who pleads cases in court
From this reading NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL.
dignitarynounUS /ˈdɪɡnəteri/
an important or influential (and often overbearing) person
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
enlistmentnounUS /enˈlɪstmənt/
a period of time spent in military service
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
opinion or judgment
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
fierce-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL.
HOLDSnounUS /hoʊldz/
plural of “hold” — the act of grasping
From this reading NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL.
HumverbUS /hʌm/
sing with closed lips
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
ManhattannounUS /mænˈhætən/
one of the five boroughs of New York City
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
used to form the superlative
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
navynounUS /ˈneɪvi/
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
NED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading NED HOLDS HIS COUNSEL.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
an amount of time
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
be fully aware or cognizant of
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
recruitsnounUS /rəˈkruːts/
plural of “recruit” — a recently enlisted soldier
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
express in words
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
subordinateadjectiveUS /səˈbɔːrdəneɪt/
lower in rank or importance
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Hum, recruits," he said as he looked the two boys over.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The chief boatswain's mate was a far more awe-inspiring officer, in the boys' eyes, than any they had so far met.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading This dignitary on the _Manhattan_ was a fierce-looking personage, but the boys were to learn that as the sailors say, his "bark was worse than his bite."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading They both knew enough of the navy to realize that he and his subordinate were the class of petty officer with whom they would come most in contact during their early period of enlistment.
