used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
aftadverbUS /æft/
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
exhale hard
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
broodingnounUS /ˈbruːdɪŋ/
sitting on eggs so as to hatch them by the warmth of the body
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
crow's-nest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
foremastnoun
the mast nearest the bow in vessels with two or more masts
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
brought together in one place
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
glancesnounUS /ˈɡlænsɪz/
plural of “glance” — a quick look
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
jawverbUS /dʒɔː/
talk socially without exchanging too much information
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
Marr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
pinverbUS /pɪn/
to hold fast or prevent from moving
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
plummetverbUS /ˈplʌmət/
drop sharply
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
poopnounUS /puːp/
obscene terms for feces
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
repeatingnounUS /rɪˈpiːtɪŋ/
the act of doing or performing again
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
done under pressure
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
skippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
Stirling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
strodeverbUS /stroʊd/
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Stirling climbed over the edge of the crow’s-nest and reached for a line.
push forcefully
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The hastily dressed crew had rushed aft and were gathered in the waist as Stirling thrust his jaw forward and locked glances with the little skipper.
whaled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
in or at the place that
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
which person or people
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
in the company of; together with
From this reading He dropped to the deck like a plummet, strode aft and mounted the poop, where Marr stood with the pin in his hand.
a late time of life
From this reading An explosion was brooding; the foremast hand, who had whaled for ten years, kept repeating, "A blow!
