used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
aftadverbUS /æft/
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
react verbally
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
awningnounUS /ˈɑːnɪŋ/
a canopy made of canvas to shelter people or things from rain or sun
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
make calm or still
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
set up or found
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
gearnounUS /ɡɪr/
a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
mediumnounUS /ˈmiːdiəm/
a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
and nothing more
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
poopnounUS /puːp/
obscene terms for feces
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
proximitynounUS /prɑːkˈsɪməti/
the property of being close together
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
riggedadjectiveUS /rɪɡd/
fitted or equipped with necessary rigging (sails and shrouds and stays etc)
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
scintillatingadjective
brilliantly clever
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
the act of causing something to go (especially messages)
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
be seated
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
steerverbUS /stɪr/
direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
tacklesnounUS /ˈtækəlz/
plural of “tackle” — the person who plays that position on a football team
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
taffrailnoun
the railing around the stern of a ship
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Between times I had a small chance to sit upon the taffrail and answer certain questions that only a mate is expected to answer to passengers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
twistedadjectiveUS /ˈtwɪstɪd/
having an intended meaning altered or misrepresented
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
unreeving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Miss Waters sat aft under an awning rigged over the after part of the poop and gazed down at the smooth surface of the sea.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading It remained calm all that day, and the two vessels were in close proximity.
change directions as if revolving on a pivot
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Small objects went floating slowly downward through the clear medium, sending scintillating rays of light as they twisted with the motion.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I found time to do some work upon the wheel gear, for the calm weather permitted the unreeving of the tackles as the vessel would not steer.
