used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
in the past
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
armourynoun
a collection of resources
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
awaitverbUS /əˈweɪt/
look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
a person who is in charge
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
Dove's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
gun-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
past form of “halt” — cause to stop
From this reading Once he halted to strike a match.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
immediately past
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
leadsnounUS /liːdz/
plural of “lead” — an advantage held by a competitor in a race
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
fasten with a lock
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
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 And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
long-disused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading Once he halted to strike a match.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
noiselesslyadverb
without a sound
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/
of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
on one occasion
From this reading Once he halted to strike a match.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
peremptoryadjectiveUS /pərˈemptəri/
offensively self-assured or given to exercising usually unwarranted power
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
in the near future
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
responsenounUS /rɪˈspɑːns/
a result
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading He had left his coat in the boat and ordered the boat's crew to await his return.
rubber-soled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
rustyadjectiveUS /ˈrʌsti/
covered with or consisting of rust
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
transport commercially
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
a particular situation
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
steeredverbUS /stɪrd/
past form of “steer” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
not in physical motion
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
successive (without a break)
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading Once he halted to strike a match.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
tillernounUS /ˈtɪlər/
a shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
water-gate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
at the time that
From this reading A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH When the chief engineer of the _Olive Branch_ at last put off from the ship for the shore in response to Captain Dove's second and still more peremptory message, he took the tiller of the boat himself, and steered straight for the water-gate of the castle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In one of his pockets he had a rusty key which presently served to turn its creaking lock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading And he made his way with accustomed steps, almost noiselessly in his rubber-soled shoes, up the sloping underground passage which leads from the long-disused water-gate toward the gun-room which long ago was the armoury of the castle.
