used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
acknowledgedadjectiveUS /ækˈnɑːlɪdʒd/
recognized or made known or admitted
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
at or in the front
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
(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 Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow
From this reading Topham bowed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
a formal event performed on a special occasion
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
DusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
enginesnounUS /ˈendʒənz/
plural of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
expansionnounUS /ɪkˈspænʃən/
the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
decreasing in amount or degree
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
instructedverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktəd/
past form of “instruct” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
a particular point in time
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
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 “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
continue talking
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
quadrupleverbUS /kwɑːˈdruːpəl/
increase fourfold
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
Quentin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
saluteverbUS /səˈluːt/
propose a toast to
From this reading Lieutenant Quentin, commander of the Watson, acknowledged his salute with due ceremony.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
signalledverbUS /ˈsɪɡnəld/
inflected form of “signal” — communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
spedverbUS /sped/
inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
move hurridly
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
Topham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
torpedonounUS /tɔːrˈpiːdoʊ/
a professional killer who uses a gun
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
having come into contact
From this reading Topham had climbed on board half a minute before, and full speed ahead had been signalled to the engines as his foot had touched the deck.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
vigornounUS /ˈvɪɡər/
forceful exertion
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
WatsonnounUS /ˈwɑːtsən/
United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
at the time that
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Dusk was falling when the torpedo boat Watson turned her nose seaward and sped away from Old Point with all the vigor of her quadruple expansion engines.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I have been instructed by telegraph to proceed to sea under your orders the moment you arrive, Mr. Topham,” he announced.
