used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
aboardadverbUS /əˈbɔːrd/
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
start firing a weapon
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
heroesnounUS /ˈhɪroʊz/
plural of “hero” — a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
Mayne
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
nastyadjectiveUS /ˈnæsti/
offensive or even (of persons) malicious
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
opensnounUS /ˈoʊpənz/
plural of “open” — a clear or unobstructed space or expanse of land or water
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
pairsnounUS /perz/
plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
ReidnounUS /riːd/
Scottish philosopher of common sense who opposed the ideas of David Hume (1710-1796)
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
unusual or striking
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading ________________________________________________________________________ This is a fairly remarkable book.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading There had been a fire, followed by an explosion aboard a vessel carrying slaves.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
Waifs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Ocean Waifs, by Captain Mayne Reid.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
which person or people
From this reading Most of the crew were pretty nasty people, but there were two pairs of people who become the heroes of this story.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The scene opens with several small vessels drifting about on the ocean.
