used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
inflected form of “beg” — call upon in supplication; entreat
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
Byfield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
COLENSO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
collapsedverbUS /kəˈlæpst/
past form of “collapse” — break down, literally or metaphorically
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
coxswainnoun
the helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
(often used in combination) having a specified direction
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
held up in the air
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
Lunardi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
manageableadjectiveUS /ˈmænɪdʒəbəl/
capable of being managed or controlled
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
oiledadjectiveUS /ɔɪld/
treated with oil
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
on one occasion
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
inspiring scornful pity
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
ring-bolt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
ropedverbUS /roʊpt/
past form of “rope” — catch with a lasso
From this reading At once the _Lunardi_ collapsed and became manageable; and having roped it to a ring-bolt astern, the crew fell to their oars.
seamnounUS /siːm/
joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
term of address for a man
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
slitnounUS /slɪt/
a long narrow opening
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
submergedadjectiveUS /səbˈmɜːrdʒd/
beneath the surface of the water
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading Had it been my affair, I believe I should have obeyed a ridiculous impulse and begged them to keep it for their trouble; so weary was I of the machine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading My teeth were chattering.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading Byfield, however, directed them to slit a seam of the oiled silk and cut away the car, which was by this time wholly submerged and not to be lifted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading CAPTAIN COLENSO "But what be us to do with the balloon, sir?" the coxswain demanded.
