used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
baitverbUS /beɪt/
harass with persistent criticism or carping
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
have
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
biscuitnounUS /ˈbɪskət/
small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
make calm or still
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
fishing-lines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
hooksnounUS /hʊks/
large strong hand (as of a fighter)
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
and nothing more
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
matchesnounUS /ˈmætʃəz/
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
Mostyn's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
not in physical motion
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/
almost; nearly
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
reliedverbUS /rɪˈlaɪd/
inflected form of “rely” — have faith or confidence in
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
sandpapernounUS /ˈsændpeɪpər/
stiff paper coated with powdered emery or sand
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
sharpenedadjectiveUS /ˈʃɑːrpənd/
having the point made sharp
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
soakedadjectiveUS /soʊkt/
very drunk
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
characterized by or preferring solitude
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
make steady
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
thumbnounUS /θʌm/
the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Peter took advantage of the practically motionless conditions to employ the fishing-lines that had been discovered in the after locker.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The lines were old and far from sound, but might be relied upon to bear a steady strain of about seven pounds.
look attentively
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading Small pieces of biscuit, soaked in water and rolled between the finger and thumb, served as bait.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The hooks were sharpened by means of the sandpaper fixed to the solitary box of matches in the boat.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Mostyn's Watch Just before sunset the wind dropped to a flat calm.
