used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
a person who is in charge
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
deck-housenoun
a superstructure on the upper deck of a ship
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't know."
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
GRIPnounUS /ɡrɪp/
the act of grasping
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
the act of retaining something
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't know."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
Jarvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I don't know."
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
overboardadverbUS /ˈoʊvərbɔːrd/
to extremes
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
ragingadjectiveUS /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/
characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
a person, without saying who
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
the upper part of anything
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
valvenounUS /vælv/
a structure in a hollow organ (like the heart) with a flap to insure one-way flow of fluid through it
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Just then the figure of a man was seen to leap from the top of the after deck-house into the raging sea.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading IN THE GRIP OF THE WAVES "SOMEBODY overboard!" said the captain sharply.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
which person or people
From this reading "Who?" demanded Steve, in an equally sharp tone as his relief took the wheel from his hands.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Bob Jarvis had been clinging to a ladder that the chief engineer was holding up against the whistle pipe, the valve of the whistle having worked loose.
