used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
barbarousadjectiveUS /ˈbɑːrbərəs/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
barquenoun
a sailing ship with 3 (or more) masts
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
a person who is in charge
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
without doubt or question
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
Frenchman's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
Hardy'snounUS /ˈhɑːrdiz/
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
intelligibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/
capable of being apprehended or understood
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "My name is Pierre Renaud.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
and nothing more
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "My name is Pierre Renaud.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "My name is Pierre Renaud.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
PierrenounUS /piˈer/
capital of the state of South Dakota; located in central South Dakota on the Missouri river
From this reading "My name is Pierre Renaud.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
readableadjectiveUS /ˈriːdəbəl/
easily deciphered
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
Renaud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "My name is Pierre Renaud.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
sinister-looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
at the time that
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
a Caucasian
From this reading THE FRENCH MATE I have said that the man, clearly understanding the captain's meaning, began; but it was not a beginning, nor a middle, nor an end, that could be set down in black and white in that Frenchman's speech.
the words that are spoken
From this reading It must be given in plain words to be readable, and thus spoke that sinister-looking man:
but in spite of that
From this reading It was most barbarous English, yet intelligible when helped along by the captain's and Hardy's questions.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I am chief mate of the barque that was just now nearly running into you.
