used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
(used of persons or the military) characterized by having or bearing arms
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
Biscay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
blacknessnounUS /ˈblæknəs/
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
bridge-ladder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
brightnessnounUS /ˈbraɪtnəs/
the location of a visual perception along a continuum from black to white
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
plural of “cloud” — any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
ContrastedverbUS /kənˈtræstəd/
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
densitynounUS /ˈdensəti/
the amount per unit size
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
not accessible to view
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
hornedadjectiveUS /hɔːrnd/
having a horn or horns or hornlike parts or horns of a particular kind
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
Laddie's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
merchant-cruiser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
mottledadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːtəld/
having spots or patches of color
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
obscureverbUS /əbsˈkjʊr/
make less visible or unclear
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
patchnounUS /pætʃ/
a small contrasting part of something
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
Portchester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
with speed
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
rollersnounUS /ˈroʊlərz/
plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
rottenadjectiveUS /ˈrɑːtən/
very bad
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Contrasted with the brightness of his comfortable cabin the blackness of the night seemed impenetrable.
ship'snounUS /ʃɪps/
possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
SlappingverbUS /ˈslæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
starboardnounUS /ˈstɑːrbərd/
the right side of a ship or aircraft to someone who is aboard and facing the bow or nose
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
Sub-lieutenant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
surgingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrdʒɪŋ/
characterized by great swelling waves or surges
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
viciouslyadverbUS /ˈvɪʃəsli/
in a vicious manner
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
WebbnounUS /web/
English writer and a central member of the Fabian Society (1858-1943)
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
well-expressed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Slapping viciously against the ship's starboard side were the surging rollers of the Bay of Biscay.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading The horned moon, already well down in the western sky, was almost hidden by a rapidly drifting patch of mottled clouds of sufficient density to obscure its pale rays.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Laddie's Warning "WHAT a rotten night!"
in the company of; together with
From this reading With this well-expressed remark Sub-lieutenant Webb gained the head of the bridge-ladder of H.M. armed merchant-cruiser _Portchester Castle_.
