used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
anew
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
ahoy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "'Brig ahoy!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
react verbally
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
BrignounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading "'Brig ahoy!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
circularadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape or form of a circle
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
dimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
hailedverbUS /heɪld/
past form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
an opening into or through something
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
imperfectlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrfɪktli/
in an imperfect or faulty way
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
conformity or harmony
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
not any; not one
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
and nothing more
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
owingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊɪŋ/
owed as a debt
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
posturesnounUS /ˈpɑːstʃərz/
plural of “posture” — the arrangement of the body and its limbs
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
shiftverbUS /ʃɪft/
make a shift in or exchange of
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
in a vehement outcry
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
threadlikeadjective
thin in diameter; resembling a thread
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Again the captain hailed the brig; but owing to the shift in the postures of the two vessels, and to my having nothing but a circular hole to hear through, I could only dimly and imperfectly catch what was shouted.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "To this no answer was returned.
whalernounUS /ˈweɪlər/
a seaman who works on a ship that hunts whales
From this reading The cries from the whaler grew more and more threadlike.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading What do you mean by keeping my mate?'
