used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
admiralnounUS /ˈædmərəl/
the supreme commander of a fleet; ranks above a vice admiral and below a fleet admiral
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
afloatadjectiveUS /əˈfloʊt/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
Agag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
how long something has existed
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
beaknounUS /biːk/
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
BlowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
browsnounUS /braʊz/
plural of “brow” — the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
an onerous or difficult concern
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
craggyadjectiveUS /ˈkræɡi/
having hills and crags
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/
in a delicate manner
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
command with authority
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
flag-lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
hintedverbUS /ˈhɪntəd/
past form of “hint” — drop a hint; intimate by a hint
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
mirrorsnounUS /ˈmɪrərz/
plural of “mirror” — polished surface that forms images by reflecting light
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
pacingnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/
(music) the speed at which a composition is to be played
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
poppedverbUS /pɑːpt/
inflected form of “pop” — bulge outward
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
portentnounUS /ˈpɔːrtent/
a sign of something about to happen
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
quarter-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
express in words
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
secretary'snounUS /ˈsekrəteriz/
possessive form of “secretary” — a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
seventyadjectiveUS /ˈsevənti/
being ten more than sixty
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
be standing; be upright
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
stoopverbUS /stuːp/
bend one's back forward from the waist on down
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
past form of “tremble” — move or jerk quickly and involuntarily up and down or sideways
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading That was when he was an admiral though, and the flag-lieutenant would have popped his head into the secretary’s cabin and murmured, “Blowing up for a storm--stand by!”
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
at the time that
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
a Caucasian
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There had been a day when a fleet would have trembled at the portent, and walked delicately, like Agag.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading He stood on the quarter-deck of the armed yacht under his command, pacing slowly to and fro, with those craggy brows almost meeting above his great beak of a nose.
a late time of life
From this reading There was a stoop about his shoulders that hinted at the burden of his years, but his eyes, blue and direct beneath ragged white eyebrows, were young enough; and a man’s eyes are the mirrors of his spirit.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading THE FEET OF THE YOUNG MEN He was nearer seventy than sixty: that is to say, he was an old man as they reckon age afloat.
