used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
beach-combers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/
a race between candidates for elective office
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
CantonnounUS /ˈkæntən/
a city on the Zhu Jiang delta in southern China; the capital of Guangdong province and a major deep-water port
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
conductedverbUS /kənˈdʌktəd/
past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
cutlassnounUS /ˈkʌtləs/
a short heavy curved sword with one edge; formerly used by sailors
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
CUTLASSES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
having gaps or spaces
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
Davie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
an opposing military force
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
Falk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
forecastlenoun
living quarters consisting of a superstructure in the bow of a merchant ship where the crew is housed
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
fowlnounUS /faʊl/
a domesticated gallinaceous bird thought to be descended from the red jungle fowl
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
brought together in one place
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
in a hurried or hasty manner
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
impaledverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪld/
past form of “impale” — pierce with a sharp stake or point
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
Kipping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
the force of workers available
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
musketnounUS /ˈmʌskət/
a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel; formerly used by infantrymen
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
PainenounUS /peɪn/
American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1731-1814)
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
panverbUS /pæn/
make a sweeping movement
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
pikenounUS /paɪk/
a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
PIKESnounUS /paɪks/
plural of “pike” — a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
past form of “pour” — cause to run
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
quarter-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
located or moved above the surround or above the normal position
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
retreatednounUS /riˈtriːtəd/
people who have retreated
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
cut with a saw
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
having a handwritten signature
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
singlyadverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡli/
one by one; one at a time
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
slicedadjectiveUS /slaɪst/
prepared by cutting
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
spitverbUS /spɪt/
expel or eject (saliva or phlegm or sputum) from the mouth
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
suicidenounUS /ˈsuːəsaɪd/
the act of killing yourself
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Another came and another; I saw them leap down singly.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
push forcefully
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading Kipping and Falk and the beach-combers they had gathered together had conducted their campaign well.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
which person or people
From this reading PIKES, CUTLASSES, AND GUNS As I hastily poured powder into the pan of my musket, a man sprang to our deck and dashed at Davie Paine, who thrust out a pike and impaled him as if he were a fowl on a spit, then reached for a musket.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading One of our new men whom we had signed at Canton raised his cutlass and sliced down the third man to board us; then they came on in an overwhelming stream.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Seeing that it would be suicide to attempt to maintain our ground, and that we already were cut off from the party on the quarter-deck, we retreated forward, fighting off the enemy as we went, and ten or a dozen of us took our stand on the forecastle.
