used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
in addition
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
cluenounUS /kluː/
a slight indication
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
represented in words especially with sharpness and detail
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
extinctionnounUS /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/
no longer active; extinguished
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
opinion or judgment
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
fluffnounUS /flʌf/
any light downy material
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
galley-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
destroyed or killed
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
gradualadjectiveUS /ˈɡrædʒuːəl/
proceeding in small stages
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
guidingadjectiveUS /ˈɡaɪdɪŋ/
exerting control or influence
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
not in action or at work
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
likeningnounUS /ˈlaɪkənɪŋ/
the act of comparing similarities
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
for more time
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
and nothing more
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
ruddernounUS /ˈrʌdər/
a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes
From this reading On the instant of its disappearance, the oars were abandoned,--as also the rudder.
salt-water
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
an instance of visual perception
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
spectatorsnounUS /ˈspekteɪtərz/
plural of “spectator” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
a special situation
From this reading The light was the only thing that had been guiding them; and that gone, they had not the slightest clue as to their course.
caused to fall to the ground
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
tubnounUS /tʌb/
a relatively large open container that you fill with water and use to wash the body
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
waningnounUS /ˈweɪnɪŋ/
a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was neither moon nor stars in the sky.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
in the company of; together with
From this reading It went out while the eyes of several were fixed upon it; not by any gradual disappearance,--as a waning star might have passed out of sight,--but with a quick "fluff;"--so one of the spectators described it,--likening its extinction to "a tub of salt-water thrown over the galley-fire."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It would have been idle to attempt steering any longer.
