used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
brighteradjectiveUS /ˈbraɪtər/
comparative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
captain'snounUS /ˈkæptənz/
possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
cockpitnounUS /ˈkɑːkpɪt/
compartment where the pilot sits while flying the aircraft
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/
a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
drizzlenounUS /ˈdrɪzəl/
very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
divisible by two
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
an alert and refreshed state
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
(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 Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
haulverbUS /hɔːl/
draw slowly or heavily
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
leadenadjectiveUS /ˈledən/
darkened with overcast
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
any art that invokes supernatural powers
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
main-topmast-staysails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
meridiannounUS /mərˈɪdiən/
the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
mistyadjectiveUS /ˈmɪsti/
filled or abounding with fog or mist
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
information about recent and important events
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
not any; not one
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
piledverbUS /paɪld/
past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
with speed
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
rumbledverbUS /ˈrʌmbəld/
past form of “rumble” — make a low noise
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
filled with satisfaction
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
the display of a motion picture
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
southwestnounUS /ˌsaʊˈθwest/
the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
topmast-and
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Now the captain's big voice rumbled some kind of good news, and each of us made a dash for the stairs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
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 Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A SHOT FROM THE DARK During the first few hours of the afternoon we had looked on deck several times, but felt better satisfied to remain below, out of the drizzle.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Off in the southwest, which had been leaden from horizon to meridian showing no distinction of water and sky, appeared a spot of light, a glow, growing rapidly brighter.
wipedverbUS /waɪpt/
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading Before it the misty rain was being wiped as if by magic from the air.
yellnounUS /jel/
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading Even as we piled out into the cockpit the mate gave a yell and sailors sprang to haul down the topmast-and main-topmast-staysails.
