a-port
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
at or in the front
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was quite an exciting time.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
from appearances alone
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
lacking grace in movement or posture
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
defectiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈfektɪv/
having a defect
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading It was quite an exciting time.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was quite an exciting time.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
and nothing more
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
not any; not one
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
oarnounUS /ɔːr/
an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
pilotverbUS /ˈpaɪlət/
operate an airplane
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was quite an exciting time.
reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/
change to the contrary
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
snapverbUS /snæp/
utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
sweepverbUS /swiːp/
sweep across or over
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
towboatnounUS /ˈtoʊboʊt/
a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Hard a-port!” the pilot of the river boat was calling.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Fortunately, that was just what Frank had started to do.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Will managed to “snap” the three boys straining at that clumsy big steering oar called the “sweep”; with the towboat apparently dead ahead.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had his judgment been at all defective in the start, all would have been lost; for there was certainly no time to reverse, and go the other way.
