used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
(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 The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
batteriesnounUS /ˈbætəriz/
plural of “battery” — group of guns or missile launchers operated together at one place
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading First and foremost was Jack Chase, our noble First Captain of the Top.
CHASEverbUS /tʃeɪs/
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading JACK CHASE.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading First and foremost was Jack Chase, our noble First Captain of the Top.
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
glidingnounUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of flying a glider
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
introductionnounUS /ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of beginning something new
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK CHASE.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
the light of the Moon
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading First and foremost was Jack Chase, our noble First Captain of the Top.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
one of four equal parts
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
reclinedverbUS /rɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “recline” — move the upper body backwards and down
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
seamennounUS /ˈsiːmən/
plural of “seaman” — a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
tars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
the upper part of anything
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
top-mates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
look attentively
From this reading It was my Quarter Watch in the top; and there I reclined on the best possible terms with my top-mates.
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 The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
(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 Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The first night out of port was a clear, moonlight one; the frigate gliding though the water, with all her batteries.
Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.
From this reading Whatever the other seamen might have been, these were a noble set of tars, and well worthy an introduction to the reader.
