used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FACE THAT TERRIFIED.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
becalmedadjectiveUS /bɪˈkɑːmd/
rendered motionless for lack of wind
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
blisteringadjectiveUS /ˈblɪstərɪŋ/
harsh or corrosive in tone
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
make calm or still
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
decreasedadjectiveUS /dɪˈkriːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
desolationnounUS /ˌdesəˈleɪʃən/
the state of being decayed or destroyed
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading A FACE THAT TERRIFIED.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
flappedverbUS /flæpt/
inflected form of “flap” — move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
foreseenverbUS /ˌfɔːrˈsiːn/
inflected form of “foresee” — realize beforehand
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
glassyadjectiveUS /ˈɡlæsi/
resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
half-a-mile's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/
in an idle manner
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
mastsnounUS /mæsts/
plural of “mast” — a vertical spar for supporting sails
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
neglectedadjectiveUS /nəˈɡlektəd/
disregarded
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
NomadnounUS /ˈnoʊmæd/
a member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
rippleless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
uttered with a trill
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
TERRIFIEDadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/
thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation
From this reading A FACE THAT TERRIFIED.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A FACE THAT TERRIFIED.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
precisely as stated
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her sails flapped idly against her masts, and, neglected as they were, she looked the very picture of desolation.
at the time that
From this reading The latter lay rolling in the swell at about half-a-mile's distance when the wind finally gave out altogether.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The sea grew smooth and rippleless, while the sun shone down blistering on two becalmed vessels--the "Nomad" and the "Island Queen."
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Before long, as the captain had foreseen, the wind decreased from the fresh breeze that had been blowing to a dead, glassy calm.
