used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
accuratelyadverbUS /ˈækjərətli/
with few mistakes
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
(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 For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
make calm or still
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
gotten under control
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
cornersnounUS /ˈkɔːrnərz/
plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
couplesnounUS /ˈkʌpəlz/
plural of “couple” — a pair who associate with one another
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
footstepnounUS /ˈfʊtstep/
the sound of a step of someone walking
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
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 The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/
a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
navigatingverbUS /ˈnævəɡeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “navigate” — travel on water propelled by wind or by other means
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
not any; not one
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
obscurer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
on one occasion
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
one-stepnoun
an early ballroom dance; precursor to the fox-trot
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
and nothing more
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
pairedadjectiveUS /perd/
occurring in pairs or as a pair
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
plowingnounUS /ˈplaʊɪŋ/
tilling the land with a plow
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
port-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
riggingnounUS /ˈrɪɡɪŋ/
gear consisting of ropes etc. supporting a ship's masts and sails
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
make steady
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
possessing sweep
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
throbbingnounUS /ˈθrɑːbɪŋ/
an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
washingnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋ/
the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
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 The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
a Caucasian
From this reading The long white vessel swept on through the night in silence.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading For once the yacht contained no merry party of guests to one-step on the wide decks and fill all the obscurer corners with accurately paired couples.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The soft washing of the waves along the sides, the murmur of the wind through the light rigging aloft, and the occasional light footstep of the navigating officer on the bridge were the only sounds.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Here and there a light showed from some port-hole or window, but for the most part the whole boat was dark and silent.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading The yacht was plowing through the calm waters with a steady throbbing of the engines.
