used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
anew
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
blowingnounUS /ˈbloʊɪŋ/
processing that involves blowing a gas
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
clamorverbUS /ˈklæmər/
make loud demands
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
combers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
a movement into or inward
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
divisible by two
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
set up or found
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
depressingly dark
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
discontinued temporarily
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
lungsnounUS /lʌŋz/
plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
moderateverbUS /ˈmɑːdərət/
preside over
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
not one, and not any
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
pilingnounUS /ˈpaɪlɪŋ/
a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/
the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
ragedverbUS /reɪdʒd/
past form of “rage” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
separated in relationship by a given degree of descent
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
advancing or becoming higher or greater in degree or value or status
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
saltness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
shinglenounUS /ˈʃɪŋɡəl/
building material used as siding or roofing
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
shoalsnounUS /ʃoʊlz/
plural of “shoal” — a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
swellverbUS /swel/
increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/
causing difficulty or annoyance
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading For three days a bitter gale raged about the island, blowing clouds of sand and fine shingle along the beach and piling the big Pacific combers upon the shoals.
precisely as stated
From this reading They learned the pressure best suited to the very moderate depth, their lungs got accustomed to the extra labor, and none of them now hesitated about entering the gloomy hold.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Though they were interrupted now and then by the rising sea, they steadily removed the sand.
at the time that
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The air was filled with the saltness of the spray, and even below deck the men’s ears rang with the clamor of the sea.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Then the wind fell, and when the swell went down they set to work again and found their task grow less troublesome.
