used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
AdelaidenounUS /ˈædəleɪd/
the state capital of South Australia
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
AmsterdamnounUS /ˈæmstərdæm/
an industrial center and the nominal capital of the Netherlands; center of the diamond-cutting industry; seat of an important stock exchange; known for its canals and art museum
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
bafflingadjectiveUS /ˈbæfəlɪŋ/
making great mental demands; hard to comprehend or solve or believe
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
CalcuttanounUS /ˌkælˈkʌtə/
the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
the act of departing
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
having the power of driving or impelling
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/
without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
low-lyingadjective
having a small elevation above the ground or horizon or sea level
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
mazenounUS /meɪz/
complex system of paths or tunnels in which it is easy to get lost
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
miraclenounUS /ˈmɪrəkəl/
any amazing or wonderful occurrence
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
not any; not one
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
past form of “reveal” — make visible
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
transport commercially
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
shoalsnounUS /ʃoʊlz/
plural of “shoal” — a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
sightedadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪtɪd/
able to see
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
carry out
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
up to a particular time
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All around and astern far out to sea was such a maze of rocks and shoals that it was a miracle we had come so far.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
TowardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Toward midnight of the fourth day, the glare of lightning revealed the Adelaide in a hopeless position, close in upon a low-lying shore, and driving straight toward it.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
capable of being seen; or open to easy view
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
in or at the place that
From this reading We had baffling weather till New Amsterdam Island was sighted, where we took a new point of departure.
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading Three days later, a terrible gale struck us Four days we flew before it, whither, no one knew, for neither sun, moon, nor stars were at any time visible, and we could take no observation.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose
From this reading It is now about a year since I took passage at Calcutta in the ship Adelaide for New York.
