used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
cross-leggedadverb
with the legs crossed
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
errandnounUS /ˈerənd/
a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
fittingadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtɪŋ/
in harmony with the spirit of particular persons or occasion
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
grizzledadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪzəld/
having dark hairs mixed with grey or white
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
and nothing more
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
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 I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
set down according to a plan
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
lanternsnounUS /ˈlæntərnz/
plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
immediately past
From this reading THE LAST STITCH.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the force of workers available
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
men-of-war
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
mendingnounUS /ˈmendɪŋ/
garments that must be repaired
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
needlesnounUS /ˈniːdəlz/
plural of “needle” — the leaf of a conifer
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
sail-maker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
sail-maker's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
shrunkenadjectiveUS /ˈʃrʌŋkən/
lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
STITCHnounUS /stɪtʃ/
a link or loop or knot made by an implement in knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or sewing
From this reading THE LAST STITCH.
stitchingnounUS /ˈstɪtʃɪŋ/
joining or attaching by stitches
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
tailorsnounUS /ˈteɪlərz/
plural of “tailor” — a person whose occupation is making and altering garments
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LAST STITCH.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
twineverbUS /twaɪn/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
undertakernounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkər/
one whose business is the management of funerals
From this reading I knew their errand; for in men-of-war the sail-maker is the undertaker.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading They laid the body on deck, and, after fitting the canvas to it, seated themselves, cross-legged like tailors, one on each side, and, with their lanterns before them, went to stitching away, as if mending an old sail.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both were old men, with grizzled hair and beard, and shrunken faces.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Just before daybreak, two of the sail-maker’s gang drew near, each with a lantern, carrying some canvas, two large shot, needles, and twine.
