used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
capstans
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
crawledverbUS /krɔːld/
past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
Cripps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
fendersnounUS /ˈfendərz/
plural of “fender” — a barrier that surrounds the wheels of a vehicle to block splashing water or mud
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
forenounUS /fɔːr/
front part of a vessel or aircraft
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
the act of departing
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
the father of your father or mother
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
grufflyadverbUS /ˈɡrʌfli/
in a gruff manner
From this reading "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?"
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
fasten with a lock
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
most important element
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
masonrynounUS /ˈmeɪsənri/
structure built of stone or brick by a mason
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
come together
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
mizzennoun
third mast from the bow in a vessel having three or more masts; the after and shorter mast of a yawl, ketch, or dandy
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
used to form the superlative
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
a form of address for a man
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
Nat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
not any; not one
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
being directly across from each other; facing
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?"
transport commercially
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
squeakingadjectiveUS /ˈskwiːkɪŋ/
having or making a high-pitched sound such as that made by a mouse or a rusty hinge
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
be standing; be upright
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
STEPHEN'SnounUS /ˈstiːvənz/
possessive form of “stephen” — English writer (1832-1904)
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
up to a particular time
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading We were too late for the perilous lock; for already the capstans were going, and the ship's fenders were squeaking and groaning against the masonry.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So we stood and waited till fore, main, and mizzen had crawled by; and then I was surprised to observe, foremost and most impatient among the passengers on the opposite side, Mr. Cripps.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well," said my grandfather gruffly, "house on fire?"
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
at the time that
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading STEPHEN'S TALE On our way home we were brought to a stand at the swing bridge, which lay open to let through a ship.
winches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The winches turned, and the bridge swung; and my surprise grew, when I perceived that Mr. Cripps made no effort to avoid Grandfather Nat, but hurried forward to meet him.
