1856
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is March, 1856.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
autumnnounUS /ˈɔːtəm/
the season when the leaves fall from the trees
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
CapenounUS /keɪp/
a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
classnounUS /klæs/
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
clippernounUS /ˈklɪpər/
(electronics) a nonlinear electronic circuit whose output is limited in amplitude; used to limit the instantaneous amplitude of a waveform (to clip off the peaks of a waveform)
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/
the motion made by flapping up and down
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
givingnounUS /ˈɡɪvɪŋ/
the act of giving
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/
depressingly dark
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/
of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
heavesnounUS /hiːvz/
a chronic emphysema of the horse that causes difficult expiration and heaving of the flanks
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
HornnounUS /hɔːrn/
a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
horrornounUS /ˈhɔːrər/
intense and profound fear
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
HournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
hurlingnounUS /ˈhɜːrlɪŋ/
a traditional Irish game resembling hockey; played by two teams of 15 players each
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
INTELLIGENCEnounUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəns/
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is March, 1856.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is March, 1856.
LATESTadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/
up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date
From this reading THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
lengthnounUS /leŋkθ/
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
maintopsail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
MarchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/
march in a procession
From this reading It is March, 1856.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
night-fall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
noblestadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblɪst/
superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
rapidlyadverbUS /ˈræpədli/
with speed
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
reefed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
reelsnounUS /riːlz/
plural of “reel” — a roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a movie projector
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
rollsnounUS /roʊlz/
plural of “roll” — rotary motion of an object around its own axis
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
sailverbUS /seɪl/
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
seanounUS /siː/
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
seethes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
settlingnounUS /ˈsetəlɪŋ/
a gradual sinking to a lower level
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
shipverbUS /ʃɪp/
transport commercially
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
stormverbUS /stɔːrm/
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
swiftestadjectiveUS /ˈswɪftəst/
superlative of “swift” — moving very fast
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
tempestnounUS /ˈtempəst/
a violent commotion or disturbance
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
terribleadjectiveUS /ˈterəbəl/
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Hour by hour through the short and gloomy day, sail after sail has gone fluttering in; till now, at night-fall, she reels and rolls before the storm under a single close reefed maintopsail.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
vastadjectiveUS /væst/
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
westnounUS /west/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The short autumn day is rapidly giving place to night; and darkness, and the horror of a great tempest is settling down upon the desolate grey sea, which heaves and seethes for ever around Cape Horn.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading A great clipper ship, the noblest and swiftest of her class, is hurling along her vast length before the terrible west wind.
