used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Cardigan inserted a belaying-pin in the windlass, paused and looked at the girl.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
balladnounUS /ˈbæləd/
a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
belaying-pin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cardigan inserted a belaying-pin in the windlass, paused and looked at the girl.
bightnounUS /baɪt/
a loop in a rope
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
exhale hard
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
CardigannounUS /ˈkɑːrdɪɡən/
knitted jacket that is fastened up the front with buttons or a zipper
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
chanteynoun
a rhythmical work song originally sung by sailors
From this reading “Raise a chantey,” he suggested.
contraltonoun
a woman singer having a contralto voice
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
docknounUS /dɑːk/
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
a young female
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
insertedverbUS /ˌɪnˈsɜːrtəd/
past form of “insert” — put or introduce into something
From this reading Cardigan inserted a belaying-pin in the windlass, paused and looked at the girl.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
leapnounUS /liːp/
a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
held up in the air
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
without good reason
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Cardigan inserted a belaying-pin in the windlass, paused and looked at the girl.
loopverbUS /luːp/
move in loops
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
the force of workers available
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
a particular point in time
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Cardigan inserted a belaying-pin in the windlass, paused and looked at the girl.
made ready or fit or suitable beforehand
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
raise the level or amount of something
From this reading “Raise a chantey,” he suggested.
rollickingadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːlɪkɪŋ/
given to merry frolicking
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
a strong line
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
slackadjectiveUS /slæk/
not tense or taut
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
stern-line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading “Raise a chantey,” he suggested.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Instantly she lifted a sweet contralto in that rollicking old ballad of the sea--“Blow the Men Down.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Cardigan made a long leap from the dock to the ship's rail, balanced there lightly a moment, and sprang to the deck.
tripleverbUS /ˈtrɪpəl/
increase threefold
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
windlassnounUS /ˈwɪndləs/
lifting device consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank on which a cable or rope winds
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He passed the bight of the stern-line in a triple loop around the drum of the windlass, and without awaiting his instructions, the girl grasped the slack of the line and prepared to walk away with it as the rope paid in on the windlass.
