used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
armamentnounUS /ˈɑːrməmənt/
weaponry used by military or naval force
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
boilersnounUS /ˈbɔɪlərz/
plural of “boiler” — sealed vessel where water is converted to steam
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
consistedverbUS /kənˈsɪstəd/
past form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
cutternounUS /ˈkʌtər/
someone who cuts or carves stone
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
determineverbUS /dəˈtɜːrmən/
establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
dignifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdɪɡnəfaɪd/
having or expressing dignity; especially formality or stateliness in bearing or appearance
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
dodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
divisible by two
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
start firing a weapon
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
hide-and-seeknoun
a game in which a child covers his eyes while the other players hide then tries to find them
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
hullnounUS /hʌl/
dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
injurynounUS /ˈɪndʒəri/
any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK ON THE LOOKOUT.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
LOOKOUTnounUS /ˈlʊkaʊt/
a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event
From this reading JACK ON THE LOOKOUT.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
main-deck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JACK ON THE LOOKOUT.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
rebelnounUS /ˈrebəl/
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
smoke-stack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK ON THE LOOKOUT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The armament of the rebel steamer consisted of two guns, placed on the main-deck, forward of the boilers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
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 hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
at the time that
From this reading The battle--if the affair could be dignified by such a title--promised to be nothing but a game of hide-and-seek; for, when the Wizard moved, the boats dodged round the island, so as to escape her fire.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The hull set so low in the water, that, while the island lay between the steamer and the boats of the expedition, she was powerless to do them any injury.
WizardnounUS /ˈwɪzərd/
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
From this reading Those in the first cutter could see the smoke-stack of the Wizard--which was the name of the steamer--over the island, while the crew of the latter could not even determine the position of the boats.
