used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
move towards
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
bonfirenounUS /ˈbɑːnfaɪər/
a large outdoor fire that is lighted as a signal or in celebration
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
psychological suffering
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
driftwoodnounUS /ˈdrɪftwʊd/
wood that is floating or that has been washed ashore
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
divisible by two
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
focussedadjectiveUS /ˈfoʊkəst/
being in focus or brought into focus
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
isolatedadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsəleɪtəd/
not close together in time
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
JohnstonnounUS /ˈdʒɑːnstən/
Confederate general in the American Civil War; led the Confederate troops in the West (1807-1891)
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
having a point
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
punknounUS /pʌŋk/
an aggressive and violent young criminal
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
seaweednounUS /ˈsiːwiːd/
plant growing in the sea, especially marine algae
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
in the near future
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
strokedverbUS /stroʊkt/
past form of “stroke” — touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
sun'snounUS /sʌnz/
possessive form of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
sun-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “There are some driftwood and seaweed,” he said; “with my sun-glass I can soon have a bonfire.”
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
Thorndyke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/
in a thoughtful manner
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Ships are not apt to approach this isolated spot, and even if they did, how could we give a signal of distress?”
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Johnston stroked his dark beard thoughtfully, then he pointed toward the shore.
waterproofadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːtərpruːf/
not permitting the passage of water
From this reading He took a piece of punk from a waterproof box that he carried in his pocket and focussed the sun's rays on it.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
(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 “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “We might as well be dead and done with it,” grumbled Thorndyke.
