used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK.
AdamnounUS /ˈædəm/
(Old Testament) in Judeo-Christian mythology; the first man and the husband of Eve and the progenitor of the human race
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
albatrossnounUS /ˈælbətrɑːs/
(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
aloftadverbUS /əˈlɔːft/
at or on or to the masthead or upper rigging of a ship
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK.
beef-eaters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
boatswainnounUS /ˈboʊtsweɪn/
a petty officer on a merchant ship who controls the work of other seamen
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
a slight wind (usually refreshing)
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
jovialadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊviəl/
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
merrilyadverbUS /ˈmerəli/
in a joyous manner
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
the natural satellite of the Earth
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A NIGHT ATTACK.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/
the state of being without a flaw or defect
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
Phipps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
phosphorescencenounUS /ˌfɑːsfərˈesəns/
a fluorescence that persists after the bombarding radiation has ceased
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
plowedadjectiveUS /plaʊd/
(of farmland) broken and turned over with a plow
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
poutedverbUS /ˈpaʊtɪd/
past form of “pout” — be in a huff and display one's displeasure
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
sailsnounUS /seɪlz/
plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
skimmingnounUS /ˈskɪmɪŋ/
the act of removing floating material from the surface of a liquid
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
smartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
SpencernounUS /ˈspensər/
English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
a special situation
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
up to a particular time
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
tipsnounUS /tɪps/
plural of “tip” — the extreme end of something; especially something pointed
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE night was a thing of perfection, on the sea.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading The moon rode aloft and its light danced merrily on the tips of the waves.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading A smart breeze pouted the sails on the “Captain Spencer” till she plowed her way like a skimming albatross through the phosphorescence of the southern field of ocean.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On deck the beef-eaters, Adam and William Phipps, with the mate and a jovial boatswain, were in high spirits.
