used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
aerobic rod-shaped spore-producing bacterium; often occurring in chainlike formations; found primarily in soil
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
(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 Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
blackeradjectiveUS /ˈblækər/
comparative of “black” — being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
BretonnounUS /ˈbretən/
a native or inhabitant of Brittany (especially one who speaks the Breton language)
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
BurnsnounUS /bɜːrnz/
United States comedian and film actor (1896-1996)
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
CapenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
a quad with a square body
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
equinoxes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
especialadjectiveUS /əˈspeʃəl/
surpassing what is common or usual or expected
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
the organ of sight
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
fognounUS /fɑːɡ/
droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
howlingnounUS /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/
a long loud emotional utterance
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
lashingsnounUS /ˈlæʃɪŋz/
a large number or amount
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
immediately past
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
lead-coloredadjective
having the color of lead
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
moodilyadverb
in a moody manner
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
nearingverbUS /ˈnɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “near” — move towards
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
Nettie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never had Burns been in a blacker mood, and never had he better cause.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
patchedadjectiveUS /pætʃt/
mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
skippersnounUS /ˈskɪpərz/
plural of “skipper” — a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
not in physical motion
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
stoutnessnounUS /ˈstaʊtnəs/
the property of being strong and resolute
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
carry out
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE REWARD OF EVIL The _Nettie B._ was surging north, nearing Cape Breton.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Nat Burns sat moodily on the top of the house and watched the schooner take 'em green over her bows.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The equinoxes were not far off, and all skippers had a weather eye out, and paid especial attention to the stoutness of lashings and patched canvas.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Within the last day a fog with a wind behind it had drifted across the lead-colored ocean; and now, although the fog was gone, the wind was still howling and bringing with it a rising sea.
