used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
ContrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading Contrast the situation at this time.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
depressingly dark
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Then they were helpless, and now strong.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
horrorsnounUS /ˈhɔːrərz/
plural of “horror” — intense and profound fear
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
lifeboatnounUS /ˈlaɪfboʊt/
a strong sea boat designed to rescue people from a sinking ship
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
raynounUS /reɪ/
a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
past form of “recall” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
SHIPWRECKnounUS /ˈʃɪprek/
a wrecked ship (or a part of one)
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading Contrast the situation at this time.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading Then they were helpless, and now strong.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then they were helpless, and now strong.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Contrast the situation at this time.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
vividlyadverbUS /ˈvɪvədli/
in a vivid manner
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TERRIBLE VOYAGE AND THE SHIPWRECK The shadows of night were now upon them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading At that time everything was dark and gloomy, without a ray of hope.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading How vividly it recalled to their minds the horrors of the five days and nights during which they were tossed about in the little lifeboat a year before.
