used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
eagerly desirous
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
Cradled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
craft'snounUS /kræfts/
possessive form of “craft” — the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
DarklyadverbUS /ˈdɑːrkli/
without light
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
the first light of day
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
dawn-fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
flushnounUS /flʌʃ/
the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
gainingverbUS /ˈɡeɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
destroyed or killed
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
heavingnounUS /ˈhiːvɪŋ/
an upward movement (especially a rhythmical rising and falling)
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
JACK'SnounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
jaggedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒæɡəd/
having a sharply uneven surface or outline
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
the force of workers available
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
notchedadjectiveUS /nɑːtʃt/
notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
occupationnounUS /ˌɑːkjəˈpeɪʃən/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
and nothing more
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
persuasionnounUS /pərˈsweɪʒən/
the act of persuading (or attempting to persuade); communication intended to induce belief or action
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
precedesverbUS /prɪˈsiːdz/
third-person singular of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
radiancenounUS /ˈreɪdiːəns/
the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
RADIOnounUS /ˈreɪdioʊ/
medium for communication
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
scoresnounUS /skɔːrz/
a large number or amount
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
plural of “sea” — a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
skylinenounUS /ˈskaɪlaɪn/
the outline of objects seen against the sky
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
TropicadjectiveUS /ˈtrɑːpɪk/
relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
violetnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/
any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers
From this reading JACK’S RADIO Darkly violet under the light of the dawn-fading stars lay Castle Island.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Cradled in the heaving seas it was watched by scores of anxious eyes on the _Tropic Queen_, now in her death struggle.
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 water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
wirelessnounUS /ˈwaɪrlɪs/
medium for communication
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The fire room crew was kept at work only by physical persuasion.
an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)
From this reading The water was gaining fast now through the jagged wound in the craft’s steel side.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading In the soft radiance that precedes the first flush of a tropic dawn, the two young wireless men, their occupation gone, watched its notched skyline grow into more definite shape.
