used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
aftadverbUS /æft/
at or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading There always had been in days past.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
any thing at all
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There always had been in days past.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
Benson's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
biteverbUS /baɪt/
to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
blendedadjectiveUS /ˈblendɪd/
combined or mixed together so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
bulkheadsnounUS /ˈbʌlkhedz/
plural of “bulkhead” — a partition that divides a ship or plane into compartments
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading There always had been in days past.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
take in solid food
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
flitted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
a mental representation of some haunting experience
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There always had been in days past.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There always had been in days past.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
lamplightnoun
light from a lamp
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
a particular point in time
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading There always had been in days past.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
cut with a saw
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
semi-darkness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
strainingnounUS /ˈstreɪnɪŋ/
an intense or violent exertion
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
express in words
From this reading In the darkness I could not tell, and I opened the door leading aft to see if I could get a little light from the captain’s room.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading A figure flitted past me toward the door on the other side, and for a moment I believed I saw a ghost.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On reaching the forward cabin, I turned to the table to see if there happened to be a bite of anything to eat upon it.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The creaking of the straining bulkheads blended with the noise from the deck and in the semi-darkness made by Benson’s lamplight streaming through a door well aft, I seemed to hear the voices of the murdered as the shadows moved upon the deck.
