used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
(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 But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
neither warm nor very cold; giving relief from heat
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
plural of “cry” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
headwaynounUS /ˈhedweɪ/
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
made greater in size or amount or degree
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
issuedverbUS /ˈɪʃuːd/
past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
LAY-TO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
the force of workers available
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
not any; not one
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
O-Taka
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
and nothing more
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
plural of “order” — (often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
possession of controlling influence
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
sailboatnounUS /ˈseɪlboʊt/
a small sailing vessel; usually with a single mast
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
move hurridly
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
steersmannoun
the person who steers a ship
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
for that reason; as a result
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
in an exhaustive manner
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading She had been running at her highest rate of speed and her headway was therefore tremendous.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
warshipnounUS /ˈwɔːrʃɪp/
a government ship that is available for waging war
From this reading AN ORDER TO LAY-TO As the big warship came nearer and nearer those on board of the sailboat increased their cries.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading But the large vessel was doing all in her power to back water, and could do no more.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The former issued orders with rapidity, and the steersman obeyed “on the jump.”
a late time of life
From this reading The only thoroughly cool men on the _O-Taka_ were the captain and the steersman, the latter a salt of many years’ experience.
