used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
blotsnounUS /blɑːts/
plural of “blot” — a blemish made by dirt
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
breakersnounUS /ˈbreɪkərz/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
the organ of sight
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
heavedverbUS /hiːvd/
past form of “heave” — utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
HerricknounUS /ˈherɪk/
English lyric poet (1591-1674)
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
inferredverbUS /ˌɪnˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “infer” — reason by deduction; establish by deduction
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
islenounUS /aɪl/
a small island
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
set down according to a plan
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
the location of something surrounded by other things
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
not any; not one
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
potencynounUS /ˈpoʊtənsi/
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
move upward
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading To the expert eye the isle itself was to be inferred from a certain string of blots along the starry heaven.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
up to a particular time
From this reading And the schooner was laid to and anxiously observed till daylight.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Each sprang to his feet and stared and listened.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
vicissitudenounUS /ˌvɪˈsɪsɪtuːd/
a variation in circumstances or fortune at different times in your life or in the development of something
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading About four in the morning, as the captain and Herrick sat together on the rail, there arose from the midst of the night in front of them the voice of breakers.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
weighedverbUS /weɪd/
past form of “weigh” — have a certain weight
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sound was continuous, like the passing of a train; no rise or fall could be distinguished; minute by minute the ocean heaved with an equal potency against the invisible isle; and as time passed, and Herrick waited in vain for any vicissitude in the volume of that roaring, a sense of the eternal weighed upon his mind.
