used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
anchornounUS /ˈæŋkər/
a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
balanceverbUS /ˈbæləns/
bring into balance or equilibrium
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading "We drove them below quite easily.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together
From this reading "We drove them below quite easily.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading "We drove them below quite easily.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
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 had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
cause to move by striking
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
and nothing more
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "We drove them below quite easily.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
freed from illness or injury
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
uttered with a trill
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
Sims
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading "We drove them below quite easily.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We had to hit him over the head when he reached the deck."
a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
a source of difficulty
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
look attentively
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
at the time that
From this reading "There was only an anchor watch on deck when we came on board," said Mr. Sims.
which person or people
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading My father nodded slowly, seemed to lose his balance on the rolling deck, recovered himself, and set his feet a trifle wider apart.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The only man who gave us any trouble was your master.
