used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
AgroundadjectiveUS /əˈɡraʊnd/
stuck in a place where a ship can no longer float
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The air, too, was mild.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
rid of obstructions
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
contrastnounUS /ˈkɑːntræst/
the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
dawnedverbUS /dɔːnd/
past form of “dawn” — become clear or enter one's consciousness or emotions
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
depletedadjectiveUS /dɪˈpliːtɪd/
no longer sufficient
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
displaynounUS /dɪˈspleɪ/
something intended to communicate a particular impression
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
having the place or position changed
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
festiveadjectiveUS /ˈfestɪv/
offering fun and gaiety
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/
(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
gaietynoun
a gay feeling
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
only a very short time before
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
not accessible to view
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
immediately past
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
messnounUS /mes/
a state of confusion and disorderliness
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
mildadjectiveUS /maɪld/
moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme
From this reading The air, too, was mild.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
old-timeadjective
attractively old-fashioned (but not necessarily authentic)
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
pleasingadjectiveUS /ˈpliːzɪŋ/
giving pleasure and satisfaction
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
by chance
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
ripplenounUS /ˈrɪpəl/
a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hard and Fast Aground Christmas Day dawned bright and clear--a pleasing contrast to the preceding day.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The air, too, was mild.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The air, too, was mild.
the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation
From this reading From a weather aspect it was as unlike the old-time festive day as one could possibly imagine.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Hardly a ripple disturbed the surface of the sea, while the hills surrounding the harbour were perfectly hidden by light, fleecy mists.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The depleted mess sat down to breakfast in high spirits, but behind the display of gaiety was the thought that to many it would be the last Christmas Day that they would spend under Active Service conditions.
