used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
abruptadjectiveUS /əˈbrʌpt/
marked by sudden changes in subject and sharp transitions
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
BadgerverbUS /ˈbædʒər/
annoy persistently
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
continuousadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/
continuing in time or space without interruption
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
Dauntlessadjective
invulnerable to fear or intimidation
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
characterized by great determination
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
the act of discovering something
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
diversadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪvərz/
many and different
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
floatverbUS /floʊt/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
investigateverbUS /ˌɪnˈvestəɡeɪt/
investigate scientifically
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
engage in
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/
financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
to give an account or representation of in words
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
have in common
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
shiftsnounUS /ʃɪfts/
plural of “shift” — an event in which something is displaced without rotation
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
Shooks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
comparatives of “soon” or “early”
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
spiesnounUS /spaɪz/
plural of “spy” — (military) a secret agent hired by a state to obtain information about its enemies or by a business to obtain industrial secrets from competitors
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
terminationnounUS /tərməˈneɪʃən/
a coming to an end of a contract period
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading With the _Dauntless_ so close at hand their operations might be brought to an abrupt termination at any time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
From this reading The sooner they exhausted the chances of finding more of the treasure the better.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The setting sun told them that evening was near at hand.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
windupnounUS /ˈwaɪndʌp/
a concluding action
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Captain Shooks had determined to work through the whole night, using shifts so as to make the labor continuous; and he himself promised to share this duty with the two divers.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Should Captain Badger become alarmed at not having received a report from his spies, and start out to investigate, of course the result would be the discovery of the float, and a windup of the work.
