used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
alterverbUS /ˈɔːltər/
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
bergsnounUS /bɜːrɡz/
plural of “berg” — a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
unvarying in nature
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
cutternounUS /ˈkʌtər/
someone who cuts or carves stone
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
driftverbUS /drɪft/
be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
one or the other of two
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
enabledverbUS /eˈneɪbəld/
past form of “enable” — render capable or able for some task
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
set up or found
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
ice-patrol
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
Jack'snounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
likingnounUS /ˈlaɪkɪŋ/
a feeling of pleasure and enjoyment
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
linernounUS /ˈlaɪnər/
(baseball) a hit that flies straight out from the batter
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
lookoutnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
transport commercially
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/
plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
express gratitude or show appreciation to
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading The knowledge thus gained enabled the ship receiving it either to alter her course so as to steer clear of danger, or to be on the lookout for bergs or drift ice.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Jack found the life on board the ice-patrol cutter much to his liking.
unusuallyadverbUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəli/
to a remarkable degree or extent
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
vigilancenounUS /ˈvɪdʒələns/
the process of paying close and continuous attention
From this reading Many a liner had reason to thank the constant vigilance of the ice-patrol craft.
past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
a Caucasian
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Across miles of ocean, through space, there would flash, from Jack’s key, the message that warned of the white terrors of the north.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading There was almost constant work for him, for the southern drift of the ice was unusually heavy that year.
