used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
after-part
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
agroundadjectiveUS /əˈɡraʊnd/
stuck in a place where a ship can no longer float
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
bower-anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
brignounUS /brɪɡ/
two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
cutternounUS /ˈkʌtər/
someone who cuts or carves stone
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
the operator of a motor vehicle
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
flawnounUS /flɔː/
an imperfection in an object or machine
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
hawsers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
hoistverbUS /hɔɪst/
raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
hoistedverbUS /ˈhɔɪstəd/
past form of “hoist” — raise or haul up with or as if with mechanical help
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
-ing form of “hope” — expect and wish
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
and nothing more
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
kedge-anchor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
keelnounUS /kiːl/
a projection or ridge that suggests a keel
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
mizzen-staysail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
transport commercially
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
not in physical motion
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
tendedverbUS /ˈtendɪd/
past form of “tend” — have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
in the direction of
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
warpverbUS /wɔːrp/
make false by mutilation or addition; as of a message or story
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The instant the ship lost her way, the bower-anchor was let go, on which she tended to the wind; but the after-part of her keel was still aground.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Just then, before the people were off the yards, a sudden flaw of wind drove the ship's head off the bank.
windwardnounUS /ˈwɪndwərd/
the direction from which the wind is coming
From this reading Hoping now to get off, the order was given to hoist the driver and mizzen-staysail, and to keep the sheets to windward.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The launch and cutter were now hoisted out, and I jumped into the first to carry out the kedge-anchor, with two hawsers, in order to warp the ship clear.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading While the people were on the yards, we caught sight of a boat pulling from the brig towards the town.
