used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
the lower side of anything
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
brisklyadverbUS /ˈbrɪskli/
in a brisk manner
From this reading "Now, madame!" he said briskly.
bulwarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
CLARENCEnounUS /ˈklerəns/
a closed carriage with four wheels and seats for four passengers
From this reading MASTER CLARENCE.
descendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsendɪŋ/
coming down or downward
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
forebodings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
hailingverbUS /ˈheɪlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hail” — praise vociferously
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
harshadjectiveUS /hɑːrʃ/
unpleasantly stern
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Now, madame!" he said briskly.
plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
hurtlingverbUS /ˈhɜːrtlɪŋ/
-ing form of “hurtle” — move with or as if with a rushing sound
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
title used for a married Frenchwoman
From this reading "Now, madame!" he said briskly.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading MASTER CLARENCE.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
night-capped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
nimblyadverbUS /ˈnɪmbli/
in a nimble or agile manner; with quickness and lightness and ease
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now, madame!" he said briskly.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
a strong line
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Now, madame!" he said briskly.
cut with a saw
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
push forcefully
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
closely constrained or constricted or constricting
From this reading A rope ladder came hurtling down at our feet, and a man, nimbly descending, held it tight at the bottom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading We looked up and I saw half a dozen night-capped heads thrust over the bulwarks.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
at the time that
From this reading We had stood thus for a few moments when a harsh voice, hailing us from above, put an end to our several thoughts and forebodings.
