used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
DimlyadverbUS /ˈdɪmli/
in a dim indistinct manner
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
at any time
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
faintestadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪntəst/
superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
engage in
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
in motion
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
propellernounUS /prəˈpelər/
a mechanical device that rotates to push against air or water
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
stairwaynounUS /ˈsterweɪ/
a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
starryadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːriː/
abounding with or resembling stars
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading Dimly I could make out figures moving tiptoe at the head of the stairway.
vibrationnounUS /vaɪˈbreɪʃən/
the act of vibrating
From this reading Ever since dark the vibration of the propeller had ceased.
a message informing of danger
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading No doubt the charge was intended for a surprise, but we had half a minute of warning.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
wheelhousenoun
an enclosed compartment from which a vessel can be navigated
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
at the time that
From this reading THE NIGHT ATTACK The captain and I were in the wheelhouse when the attack came.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It must have been an hour past midnight of a gentle starry night, without the faintest breath of wind in the air.
