used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
in addition
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
a particular environment or surrounding influence
From this reading The very atmosphere of a ship's engine-room is oily.
BELOWprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/
soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
customaryadjectiveUS /ˈkʌstəmeri/
in accordance with convention or custom
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
engine-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The very atmosphere of a ship's engine-room is oily.
engine-rooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
a formation of aircraft in flight
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
recently made, produced, or harvested
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
the act of departing
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
greasyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːsi/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
GROPESnounUS /ɡroʊps/
plural of “grope” — the act of groping; and instance of groping
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
hingedverbUS /hɪndʒd/
past form of “hinge” — attach with a hinge
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The very atmosphere of a ship's engine-room is oily.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
lidnounUS /lɪd/
either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
oilyadjectiveUS /ˈɔɪli/
containing an unusual amount of grease or oil
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
shield from danger, injury, destruction, or damage
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading The very atmosphere of a ship's engine-room is oily.
staterooms
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
steepadjectiveUS /stiːp/
having a sharp inclination
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
carry out
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
in or at that place or location
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
precisely as stated
From this reading The very atmosphere of a ship's engine-room is oily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At the end of it was the steep, greasy flight of iron steps leading down into the engine-rooms.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading HE GOES BELOW AND GROPES IN THE DARK There were half a dozen or more staterooms along this passage.
wipeverbUS /waɪp/
rub with a circular motion
From this reading It was customary for one going down here to take a handful of this waste to protect his hands from the oily rail, and also on coming up to wipe his hands with a fresh lot.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Here, also, was a huge box with a hinged lid, filled with cotton waste.
