used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
exhale hard
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
brought into existence
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
boutsnounUS /baʊts/
plural of “bout” — (sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
boxingnounUS /ˈbɑːksɪŋ/
fighting with the fists
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
Chinamannoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading It was the fat Chinaman.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
dexteritynounUS /dekˈsterəti/
adroitness in using the hands
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
divertedadjectiveUS /daɪˈvɜːrtɪd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
encouragedadjectiveUS /enˈkɜːrɪdʒd/
inspired with confidence
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading It was the fat Chinaman.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
foenounUS /foʊ/
an armed adversary (especially a member of an opposing military force)
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
formidableadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmədəbəl/
extremely impressive in strength or excellence
From this reading He wielded a lacquered stool--a formidable weapon.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
harmlesslyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrmləsli/
in a harmless manner
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
jawverbUS /dʒɔː/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
lacqueredverbUS /ˈlækərd/
past form of “lacquer” — coat with lacquer
From this reading He wielded a lacquered stool--a formidable weapon.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
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 With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
man-o
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
maneuvernounUS /məˈnuːvər/
a military training exercise
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
navynounUS /ˈneɪvi/
an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
Ned's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
a customary way of operation or behavior
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
Sharp'snounUS /ʃɑːrps/
possessive form of “sharp” — a musical notation indicating one half step higher than the note named
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
sledgeverbUS /sledʒ/
transport in a sleigh
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
stoolnounUS /stuːl/
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading He wielded a lacquered stool--a formidable weapon.
moving very fast
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Almost before Ned had completed this maneuver, he had faced round on the foe that attacked him from the rear.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
war's-man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Sharp’s fist,--it was like a flesh and blood sledge hammer,--shot out full for Ned’s jaw.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading He wielded a lacquered stool--a formidable weapon.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
wholesomeadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊlsəm/
conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
wieldedverbUS /ˈwiːldɪd/
past form of “wield” — have and exercise
From this reading He wielded a lacquered stool--a formidable weapon.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading With a dexterity born of long practice in wholesome boxing bouts, which are encouraged in the navy, the young man-o’-war’s-man put up a swift guard, and Sharp’s blow was harmlessly diverted.
