used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
anew
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
from appearances alone
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
camp-chair
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
dismayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmeɪd/
struck with fear, dread, or consternation
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
dreamingnounUS /ˈdriːmɪŋ/
imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
drenchedadjectiveUS /drentʃt/
abundantly covered or supplied with; often used in combination
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
an opposing military force
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
Eveleen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
exclamationnounUS /ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
past form of “fold” — bend or lay so that one part covers the other
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
footingnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋ/
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
set up or found
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
furiouslyadverbUS /ˈfjʊriəsli/
(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
gauntadjectiveUS /ɡɔːnt/
very thin especially from disease or hunger or cold
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
gunwalenoun
wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
limplyadverb
without rigidity
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
not any; not one
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
and nothing more
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
onslaughtnounUS /ˈɔːnslɔːt/
a sudden and severe onset of trouble
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
pyjamas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
regainverbUS /rɪˈɡeɪn/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
Richard'snounUS /ˈrɪtʃərdz/
possessive form of “richards” — English literary critic who collaborated with C. K. Ogden and contributed to the development of Basic English (1893-1979)
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
stoopedadjectiveUS /stuːpt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
hard to endure
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
tulwar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
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 She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting
From this reading With a hasty exclamation he flung his weapon away, and stooped to reach her.
at the time that
From this reading /When/ Eveleen came to the surface again--for she had found no footing when she slipped from the boat’s side--she thought she must be dreaming.
which person or people
From this reading She could hear his blows as they fell, and the dismayed cries of the enemy, though she could not see the fight, and over the side of the boat lay--dead or unconscious--the man who had struck at her with his tulwar, his arms stretched limply as though trying to reach the water.
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading Apparently Richard’s onslaught had cleared a space about him on the deck, for he turned suddenly, with heaving chest, and looked wildly at the water--only to see his wife trying to regain her hold of the gunwale.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the gunwale above her stood Richard--a gaunt figure in drenched pyjamas--laying about him furiously with a folded camp-chair.
