the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
Captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
an occurrence of something
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
contrastedverbUS /kənˈtræstəd/
past form of “contrast” — put in opposition to show or emphasize differences
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
countermanded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
COUNTERMANDING
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
evincedverbUS /ɪˈvɪnst/
past form of “evince” — give expression to
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
fliesnounUS /flaɪz/
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
galenounUS /ɡeɪl/
a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
usually; as a rule
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
helmnounUS /helm/
steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
irrespectiveadverbUS /ˌɪrəˈspektɪv/
in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
a small worthless amount
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
JACK'SnounUS /dʒæks/
possessive form of “jack” — a small worthless amount
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
loadstonenoun
a permanent magnet consisting of magnetite that possess polarity and has the power to attract as well as to be attracted magnetically
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
roused to anger
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
a particular point in time
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
needlenounUS /ˈniːdəl/
the leaf of a conifer
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
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 These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
by chance
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
perilousadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
seamannounUS /ˈsiːmən/
a man who serves as a sailor
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
SUPERIOR'SnounUS /suːˈpiːriərz/
possessive form of “superior” — one of greater rank or station or quality
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading SOME THOUGHTS GROWING OUT OF MAD JACK’S COUNTERMANDING HIS SUPERIOR’S ORDER.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading These two orders given, by the Captain and his Lieutenant, exactly contrasted their characters.
unwiseadjectiveUS /ənˈwaɪz/
showing or resulting from lack of judgment or wisdom
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
at the time that
From this reading The truth of this seemed evinced in the case of Mad Jack, during the gale, and especially at that perilous moment when he countermanded the Captain’s order at the helm.
which person or people
From this reading In time of peril, like the needle to the loadstone, obedience, irrespective of rank, generally flies to him who is best fitted to command.
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading But every seaman knew, at the time, that the Captain’s order was an unwise one in the extreme; perhaps worse than unwise.
