Chapter I · Chapter 1

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

lost in thought; showing preoccupation

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

third-person singular of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

cause to be bored

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

English romantic poet notorious for his rebellious and unconventional lifestyle (1788-1824)

From this reading LORD BYRON.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

brought together in one place

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

the act of departing

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

catch sight of

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

showing lack of emotional involvement

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

distributed or spread over a considerable extent

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

opinion or judgment

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

in a gay manner

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

in a gradual manner

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

possessive form of “horizon” — the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

filled with a great quantity

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

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 group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading LORD BYRON.

a vertical spar for supporting sails

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

the force of workers available

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

and nothing more

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

forward in time or order or degree

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

a small wave on the surface of a liquid

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

the place where some action occurs

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

a very small spot

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

not in physical motion

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

feeling self-importance

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

in a swift manner

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

up to a particular time

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

a region marking a boundary

From this reading Far on th' horizon's verge appears a speck-- A spot--a mast--a sail--an armed deck!

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

look attentively

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

which person or people

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

belonging to which person

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

in the company of; together with

From this reading On a bright day in the summer of 1643, a light pleasure-boat shot gaily across the harbor of Boston, laden with a merry party, whose cheerful voices were long heard, mingling with the ripple of the waves, and the music of the breeze, which swelled the canvas, and bore them swiftly onward.

someone who sees an event and reports what happened

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.

third-person singular of “woo” — seek someone's favor

From this reading Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvas woos the wind from high.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading A group of friends, who had collected on the shore to witness their departure, gradually dispersed, till, at length, a single individual only remained, whose eyes still followed the track of the vessel, though his countenance wore that abstracted air, which shewed his thoughts were detached from the passing scene.