used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
in addition
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
according with custom or propriety
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
greatly pleasing or entertaining
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
extinguishedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
impendingadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpendɪŋ/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
a small worthless amount
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
conformity or harmony
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
lappingnounUS /ˈlæpɪŋ/
covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
lulledverbUS /lʌld/
past form of “lull” — calm by deception
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
mooringsnounUS /ˈmuːrɪŋz/
plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
noveltynounUS /ˈnɑːvəlti/
originality by virtue of being refreshingly novel
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
Sea-Lark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
the state of being asleep
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
the upper part of anything
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
vanishverbUS /ˈvænɪʃ/
get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
precisely as stated
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK Jack was by now becoming accustomed to sleeping aboard the _Sea-Lark_.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The slight motion of the sloop as she lay at her moorings, and the gentle lapping of water against the side of the craft, instead of keeping him awake, lulled him to sleep.
at the time that
From this reading There was one night, however, when George was not able to keep his chum company, as his father required his assistance very early in the morning to get a launch into the water on the top of the tide.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a delightful novelty, also, in sleeping on his boat, and the sense of impending danger which, during the first night or two, had kept his ears straining, was beginning to vanish.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading Both he and George now dropped off to sleep within a few minutes of the light being extinguished.
