used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
broilingnounUS /ˈbrɔɪlɪŋ/
cooking by direct exposure to radiant heat (as over a fire or under a grill)
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
BurgoynenounUS /bərˈɡɔɪn/
British general in the American Revolution who captured Fort Ticonderoga but lost the battle of Saratoga in 1777 (1722-1792)
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
cablenounUS /ˈkeɪbəl/
a telegram sent abroad
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
make calm or still
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
plural of “companion” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
dinghynounUS /ˈdɪŋi/
a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
an acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
LaboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a laborious manner
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
LaunchingnounUS /ˈlɔːntʃɪŋ/
the act of moving a newly built vessel into the water for the first time
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
mannedadjectiveUS /mænd/
having a crew
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
rowedverbUS /roʊd/
past form of “row” — propel with oars
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
sanguineadjectiveUS /ˈsæŋɡwɪn/
confidently optimistic and cheerful
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
schoonernounUS /ˈskuːnər/
a large beer glass
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/
characterized by or performed with much energy or force
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
surmiseverbUS /sərˈmaɪz/
infer from incomplete evidence
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
SwanverbUS /swɑːn/
to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
tenaciousadjectiveUS /təˈneɪʃəs/
good at remembering
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading By that time Burgoyne realized that he had been over sanguine in his surmise.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Farewell to Swan Island Launching the dinghy, Burgoyne and his companions rowed off to the schooner.
toiledverbUS /tɔɪld/
past form of “toil” — work hard
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
towedverbUS /toʊd/
past form of “tow” — drag behind
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading Then followed a strenuous task under the broiling rays of the afternoon sun as they towed the vessel into the creek.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
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 It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
winchnounUS /wɪntʃ/
lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
From this reading Laboriously they manned the winch until the cable was up and down, then for half an hour they toiled before they succeeded in breaking out the heavy anchor from the tenacious hold of the bed of the lagoon.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading It was now close on high water and the wind had dropped to almost a flat calm.
