used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
ballastnounUS /ˈbæləst/
any heavy material used to stabilize a ship or airship
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
completely unclothed
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But what do such details matter?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
make calm or still
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
cavilled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
cold-bloodedadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊldˈblʌdəd/
without compunction or human feeling
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
criticnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪk/
a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
true confidential information
From this reading But what do such details matter?
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But what do such details matter?
Evelyn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
gunwalenoun
wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
incidentsnounUS /ˈɪnsədənts/
plural of “incident” — a single distinct event
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
inconsistenciesnounUS /ˌɪŋˈkɑːnsɪstensiz/
plural of “inconsistency” — the relation between propositions that cannot both be true at the same time
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
kegsnounUS /keɡz/
plural of “keg” — the quantity contained in a keg
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
knee-deepadjective
coming only to the ankle or knee
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
luggernoun
small fishing boat rigged with one or more lugsails
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading But what do such details matter?
the force of workers available
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
not any; not one
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
outboardnounUS /ˈaʊtbɔːrd/
a motorboat with an outboard motor
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
bring forth or yield
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
uttered with a trill
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
term of address for a man
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
slungverbUS /slʌŋ/
inflected form of “sling” — hurl as if with a sling
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
splashingnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪŋ/
the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
startlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtlɪŋ/
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading But what do such details matter?
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
trampedverbUS /træmpt/
past form of “tramp” — travel on foot, especially on a walking expedition
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
precisely as stated
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
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 Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading On so calm a night there was surely no need for the lugger to carry ballast outboard, though the description of the kegs slung along her weather gunwale helped to produce an atmosphere of very proper desperation.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading There were, as Sir Evelyn went on, inconsistencies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But what do such details matter?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were incidents in the story which might have been cavilled at by a cold-blooded critic.
which person or people
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Men who had tramped across bare rolling stones were splashing knee-deep in water a little later, as if the tide had come in with startling rapidity.
