used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
air-shipverb
transport (cargo) by air
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
batteriesnounUS /ˈbætəriz/
plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
BelgianadjectiveUS /ˈbeldʒən/
of or relating to or characteristic of Belgium or the Belgian people
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
CapellanounUS /kəˈpelə/
the brightest star in Auriga
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
defencelessadjective
lacking protection or support
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
DovernounUS /ˈdoʊvər/
the capital of the state of Delaware
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/
(of time) having passed or slipped by
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
excitingadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
fortifiedadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtəfaɪd/
secured with bastions or fortifications
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
a person of German nationality
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
Haye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
to a considerable degree
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
immediately past
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
outeradjectiveUS /ˈaʊtər/
being on the outside or further from a center
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
RossnounUS /rɑːs/
Scottish explorer who led Arctic expeditions that yielded geographic discoveries while searching for the Northwest Passage (1777-1856)
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
cut with a saw
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
with strength or in a strong manner
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Off the Belgian Coast "A chance of seeing something exciting at last!" exclaimed Ross.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
Trefusis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Trefusis and Haye were on board the _Capella_, lying in the outer harbour at Dover.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two months had elapsed since the lads saw a hostile air-ship over London.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Of course we've not had altogether a dull time, but this ought to be absolutely 'it'."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Now they were about to see what a fleet of heavily armed British ships could do--not against a practically defenceless town, but against the strongly fortified German batteries on the Belgian coast.
