used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
activitiesnounUS /ækˈtɪvətiz/
plural of “activity” — any specific behavior
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
AustinnounUS /ˈɔːstən/
state capital of Texas on the Colorado River; site of the University of Texas
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Not a light was to be seen on shore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
half the width of an em
From this reading EN VOYAGE.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
England'snounUS /ˈɪŋɡləndz/
possessive form of “england” — a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
opinion or judgment
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
hurricane-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
IslenounUS /aɪl/
a small island
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Not a light was to be seen on shore.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
marginnounUS /ˈmɑːrdʒən/
the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
past form of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
navaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Not a light was to be seen on shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
PortsmouthnounUS /ˈpɔːrtsməθ/
a port city in southeastern Virginia on the Elizabeth River opposite Norfolk; naval base; shipyards
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Not a light was to be seen on shore.
Selwyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
shelteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃeltərd/
protected from danger or bad weather
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Not a light was to be seen on shore.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
uninhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətɪd/
not having inhabitants; not lived in
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/
not seen or perceived
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading EN VOYAGE.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading From a sheltered position on the hurricane-deck, Austin Selwyn watched the curtain of night descending on England's coast.
water'snounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/
possessive form of “water” — 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 Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Like an uninhabited island, England lay in the mingled menace and protection of the sea, while unseen eyes kept their endless vigil.
WightnounUS /waɪt/
a human being; “wight” is an archaic term
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Portsmouth, with its thousand naval activities, was already lost to view off the ship's stern; and the Isle of Wight was but a dark margin on the water's edge.
