used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
in the past
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
amateurnounUS /ˈæmətɜːr/
someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
braverynounUS /ˈbreɪvəri/
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
cataractnounUS /ˈkætərækt/
an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
dandynounUS /ˈdændi/
a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
double-manned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
life-savers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
lifeboatsnounUS /ˈlaɪfboʊts/
plural of “lifeboat” — a strong sea boat designed to rescue people from a sinking ship
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
the force of workers available
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
not any; not one
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
and nothing more
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
pouringadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/
flowing profusely
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
transport commercially
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
stormingverbUS /ˈstɔːrmɪŋ/
-ing form of “storm” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
up to a particular time
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is no end to the bravery of these amateur life-savers.
tuggedverbUS /tʌɡd/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
precisely as stated
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The dandy new lifeboats were beaten back; the men on board tugged and strained till they were exhausted.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Only a very little while ago a ship came on shore.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The sea was like a huge pouring cataract, and the wind pressed like a solid body.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
wreckedadjectiveUS /rekt/
destroyed in an accident
From this reading The oars were double-manned, but nothing would avail; and all the time the cry of the men on the wrecked vessel sounded through the storming of the gale.
