used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
AudacitynounUS /ɑːˈdæs.ə.t̬i/
A willingness to take bold risks; insolent and daring boldness that defies all authority.
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
fearless and daring
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
busilyadverbUS /ˈbɪzəli/
in a busy manner
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
Chamillard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
choicestadjectiveUS /ˈtʃɔɪsəst/
superlative of “choice” — of superior grade
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
convenientadjectiveUS /kənˈviːnjənt/
suited to your comfort or purpose or needs
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
evenedverbUS /ˈiːvənd/
past form of “even” — make level or straight
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
FanningverbUS /ˈfænɪŋ/
inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
destroyed or killed
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
interlockingadjectiveUS /ˈɪntərlɑːkɪŋ/
linked or locked closely together as by dovetailing
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
maintop
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
marinesnounUS /mərˈiːnz/
an amphibious division of the United States Navy
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
the force of workers available
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
go across or through
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
poopnounUS /puːp/
obscene terms for feces
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/
change to the contrary
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
cut with a saw
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
spar-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/
past form of “station” — assign to a station
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading _The Audacity of Despair_ On the spar-deck things had gone better.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading Though De Chamillard and his marines had been driven from the poop by the fire of the English, the men in the tops had more than evened that reverse.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It happened that some of the choicest spirits on the Richard were stationed in the maintop.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
which person or people
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Fanning, who had been busily engaged with small arms, saw his opportunity.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading As the two ships lay side by side, the interlocking yards made a convenient bridge from one to the other, over which a bold man might pass.
