used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
afloatadjectiveUS /əˈfloʊt/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
eagerly desirous
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
let fall to the ground
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
exertionnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/
use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
expedientadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspiːdiənt/
serving to promote your interest
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
fat-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
Hazell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
incapableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkeɪpəbəl/
(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
having much knowledge or education
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
judgedverbUS /dʒʌdʒd/
past form of “judge” — determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
the force of workers available
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
oarsmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
PoolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
preciseadjectiveUS /prɪˈsaɪs/
sharply exact or accurate or delimited
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
on the contrary
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
term of address for a man
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
steamverbUS /stiːm/
travel by means of steam power
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
suspiciousadjectiveUS /səˈspɪʃəs/
openly distrustful and unwilling to confide
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
precisely as stated
From this reading ‘My friend here is very anxious to get a sight of her, and until he has seen her nothing definite can be done.’
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading ‘We expect to come across a rather suspicious steam launch,’ he said.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These two men had not been previously informed of the precise object of the expedition, but now that they were safely afloat Hazell judged it expedient to give them some notion of it.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
which person or people
From this reading ‘What sort of a craft is she, sir?’ asked the stroke oar, a fat-faced man who seemed absolutely incapable of any serious exertion.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The oarsmen had instructions to drop slowly down to the Pool, as the wide reach below the Tower is called.
