used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
boomverbUS /buːm/
make a resonant sound, like artillery
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
terminate
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The broken end of the sheet was trailing in the water.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/
including all or everything
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
firmly closed or secured
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
graspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/
understanding with difficulty
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
HarveynounUS /ˈhɑːrvi/
English physician and scientist who described the circulation of the blood; he later proposed that all animals originate from an ovum produced by the female of the species (1578-1657)
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
jibing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
main-sheet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
mainsailnoun
the lowermost sail on the mainmast
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
sailboatnounUS /ˈseɪlboʊt/
a small sailing vessel; usually with a single mast
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
snappedverbUS /snæpt/
inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
splitverbUS /splɪt/
separate into parts or portions
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
steadiedadjectiveUS /ˈstedid/
made steady or constant
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Harvey, having landed on the deck of the sailboat, steadied himself by grasping the starboard stay, and took a quick, comprehensive glance over the situation.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
trailingnounUS /ˈtreɪlɪŋ/
the pursuit (of a person or animal) by following tracks or marks they left behind
From this reading The broken end of the sheet was trailing in the water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A foot and a half or so of the boom had split off from the end, and the mainsail was badly torn.
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 The broken end of the sheet was trailing in the water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The boat could be got in hand if that were regained.
in or at the place that
From this reading The main-sheet had been snapped by the jibing of the boom, but the break in the boom was beyond the point where the sheet was fastened.
