used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
anticipateverbUS /ænˈtɪsəpeɪt/
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/
causing inconvenience
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
cockleshellnoun
a small light flimsy boat
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
currentsnounUS /ˈkɜːrənts/
plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
driftwoodnounUS /ˈdrɪftwʊd/
wood that is floating or that has been washed ashore
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
divisible by two
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
frailer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
Half-an-hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
Merefleet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
not any; not one
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
and nothing more
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
past form of “persuade” — win approval or support for
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
Quiller's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading He did not anticipate any difficulty in returning.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
get by special effort
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
precisely as stated
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sea was very quiet, only broken by an occasional long swell that drove them southward like driftwood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Half-an-hour later they were out on the open sea beyond the harbour in a cockleshell even frailer than Quiller's little craft which they had not been able to secure.
which person or people
From this reading Merefleet, who had been persuaded to quit the harbour against his better judgment, was not greatly disturbed by this fact.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading A little extra labour was the worst he expected, for he knew that a southward course would bring him into no awkward currents.
