used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
balloonnounUS /bəˈluːn/
large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
the lower side of anything
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
bulwarks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
clapverbUS /klæp/
put quickly or forcibly
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
Cobb's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
cockle-shell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
McBain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Or up to the top," suggested McBain.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
ribsnounUS /rɪbz/
plural of “rib” — support resembling the rib of an animal
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Or up to the top," suggested McBain.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Said Silas one morning to McBain, as they stood together leaning on the bulwarks.
the upper part of anything
From this reading "Or up to the top," suggested McBain.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Or up to the top," suggested McBain.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
precisely as stated
From this reading And that cockle-shell of Cobb's would be the very first to go down to the bottom."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "I don't quite like the look of that ice, captain; it is precious big, and if it came on to press a bit, why, it would go clean through the ribs of us, strong though our good ships are.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What?" laughed Silas; "would you clap your balloon top of her, and lift her out like?"
