used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
anchorsnounUS /ˈæŋkərz/
plural of “anchor” — a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
cable'snounUS /ˈkeɪbəlz/
possessive form of “cable” — a telegram sent abroad
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
CarolinasnounUS /ˌkerəˈlaɪnəz/
the area of the states of North Carolina and South Carolina
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
CharlestonnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrlstən/
state capital of West Virginia in the central part of the state on the Kanawha river
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
cloakingverbUS /ˈkloʊkɪŋ/
-ing form of “cloak” — hide under a false appearance
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
cruiseverbUS /kruːz/
drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/
the last (12th) month of the year
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
flakesnounUS /fleɪks/
plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
homewardadverbUS /ˈhoʊmwərd/
toward home
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
loiteringverbUS /ˈlɔɪtərɪŋ/
-ing form of “loiter” — be about
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
NorfolknounUS /ˈnɔːrfək/
port city located in southeastern Virginia on the Elizabeth River at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay; headquarters of the Atlantic fleet of the United States Navy
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
peacefuladjectiveUS /ˈpiːsfəl/
not disturbed by strife or turmoil or war
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
PlanternounUS /ˈplæntər/
the owner or manager of a plantation
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
with low volume
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
ridesnounUS /raɪdz/
plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
roofsnounUS /ruːfs/
plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
sailor-planter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
sloopnounUS /sluːp/
a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
soundlessadjective
marked by absence of sound
From this reading It is a soundless, soft December evening.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The sailor-planter, loitering homeward from a cruise to Charleston and the coast towns of the Carolinas, is calling on friends in Norfolk.
tuggingverbUS /ˈtʌɡɪŋ/
inflected form of “tug” — pull hard
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
twenty-ton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In shore from the sloop of war rides the peaceful twenty-ton sloop of Planter Paul Jones.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading Off shore, a cable’s length, an English sloop of war, eighteen guns, lies tugging at her anchors.
a Caucasian
From this reading The quietly falling flakes are cloaking in thin white the streets and roofs of Norfolk.
