used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
bulked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
coolies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
distributingverbUS /dɪˈstrɪbjuːtɪŋ/
-ing form of “distribute” — administer or bestow, as in small portions
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
docknounUS /dɑːk/
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
EnsignnounUS /ˈensən/
a person who holds a commissioned rank in the United States Navy or the United States Coast Guard; below lieutenant junior grade
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
headquartersnounUS /ˈhedkwɔːrtərz/
(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
housedverbUS /haʊzd/
past form of “house” — contain or cover
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
a small worthless amount
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
not any; not one
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
obedientadjectiveUS /oʊˈbiːdiənt/
dutifully complying with the commands or instructions of those in authority
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
piernounUS /pɪr/
a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
RADIOnounUS /ˈreɪdioʊ/
medium for communication
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
resemblingverbUS /rɪˈzembəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
RobbinsnounUS /ˈrɑːbɪnz/
United States choreographer who brought human emotion to classical ballet and spirited reality to Broadway musicals (1918-1998)
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
searchlightnounUS /ˈsɜːrtʃlaɪt/
a light source with reflectors that projects a beam of light in a particular direction
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
get rid of
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
smugglersnounUS /ˈsmʌɡlərz/
plural of “smuggler” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
having a sharp inclination
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
summer-browned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
possessing sweep
From this reading No other buildings could be seen, nothing but the steep slope of a summer-browned hill, as, obedient to instructions, Robbins swept the rays of the searchlight over the surroundings.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Probably ‘Black George’ housed them there before distributing them to the mainland.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “That building seems to me proof positive that this is headquarters for smugglers of Chinese coolies,” said Jack.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
warehousenounUS /ˈwerhaʊs/
a storehouse for goods and merchandise
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
WarwicknounUS /ˈwɔːrwɪk/
English statesman; during the War of the Roses he fought first for the house of York and secured the throne for Edward IV and then changed sides to fight for the house of Lancaster and secured the throne for Henry VI (1428-1471)
From this reading “Nothing but that great warehouse,” said Ensign Warwick to Jack.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A SIGNAL FROM THE RADIO STATION No signs of life were apparent as the glare of the searchlight played over the great building, resembling a dock shed in appearance, which bulked on shore at the end of the pier and slightly to one side of it.
