used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
athwartadverbUS /əˈθwɔːrt/
at right angles to the center line of a ship
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
bare-footed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
blotnounUS /blɑːt/
a blemish made by dirt
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
Blyth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
clusterverbUS /ˈklʌstər/
come together as in a cluster or flock
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/
(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
forecastlenoun
living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
galleynounUS /ˈɡæli/
a large medieval vessel with a single deck propelled by sails and oars with guns at stern and prow; a complement of 1,000 men; used mainly in the Mediterranean for war and trading
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
in a gradual manner
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
hammernounUS /ˈhæmər/
the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
hurriedlyadverbUS /ˈhɜːridli/
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
I'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
large-headedadjective
having a large head
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
the force of workers available
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
not any; not one
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
outcrynounUS /ˈaʊtkraɪ/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
paralysed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
pinionedadjective
(of birds) especially having the flight feathers
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
revealverbUS /rɪˈviːl/
make visible
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
transport commercially
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
short-handledadjective
having a short handle
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
skippernounUS /ˈskɪpər/
a student who fails to attend classes
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
with low volume
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
to a small degree or extent
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
spatternounUS /ˈspætər/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
squadronsnounUS /ˈskwɑːdrənz/
plural of “squadron” — a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
star-lit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
statelyadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪtli/
impressive in appearance
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
possessing sweep
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
an old and formal word for “while”
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading Before he could reach them, however, two bare-footed men stepped softly out behind him from the galley; and whilst one seized and pinioned his arms behind him, the other flourished a large-headed, short-handled hammer over his head whilst he whispered fiercely in the ear of the paralysed skipper:
in the company of; together with
From this reading The night was dark, there being no moon, whilst the star-lit sky was almost blotted out by the squadrons of fleecy cloud which swept with stately motion athwart it.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet there was light enough to reveal to the skipper a dark blot on the forecastle, which he knew to be a cluster of men; and toward these he hurriedly made his way.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Then he added, somewhat more gently: "No harm is intended you, Captain Blyth, but we mean to have the ship.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Give but a single outcry, and I'll spatter your brains about the deck."
