used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
cable'snounUS /ˈkeɪbəlz/
possessive form of “cable” — a telegram sent abroad
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
dampadjectiveUS /dæmp/
slightly wet
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/
causing dejection
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
foggyadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːɡi/
stunned or confused and slow to react (as from blows or drunkenness or exhaustion)
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
intentlyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈtentli/
with strained or eager attention
From this reading We listened intently.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading We listened intently.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
become covered with mist
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
mouthsnounUS /maʊðz/
plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
not any; not one
From this reading No one spoke.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
rattleverbUS /ˈrætəl/
make short successive sounds
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
transport commercially
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking)
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading No one spoke.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The night was an utterly dismal one--cold, damp, and foggy.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading No one needed to be told what those shouts meant.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A pale light struggled through the heavy mist, but it was too thick to see a cable's length from the ship, although we distinctly heard the rattle of oars at some distance, with now and then a quick shout that sent our hearts up into our mouths.
