used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
assurancenounUS /əˈʃʊrəns/
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
bannernounUS /ˈbænər/
long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
Barclay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
Britishers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
CommodorenounUS /ˈkɑːmədɔːr/
a commissioned naval officer who ranks above a captain and below a rear admiral; the lowest grade of admiral
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
confidentadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnfədənt/
having or marked by confidence or assurance
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
an opposing military force
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
engageverbUS /enˈɡeɪdʒ/
carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
equalizeverbUS /ˈiːkwəlaɪz/
compensate; make the score equal
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
fulfilledadjectiveUS /fʊlˈfɪld/
completed to perfection
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
yet to be or coming
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
HOnounUS /hoʊ/
a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds
From this reading SAIL HO!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
not any; not one
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
PerrynounUS /ˈperi/
United States philosopher (1876-1957)
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
positiveadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːzətɪv/
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
by chance
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading SAIL HO!
express in words
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
in the near future
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
suggestverbUS /səˈdʒest/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
thirty-fiveadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrdifaɪv/
being five more than thirty
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
unfurlingverbUS /ənˈfɜːrlɪŋ/
-ing form of “unfurl” — unroll, unfold, or spread out or be unrolled, unfolded, or spread out from a furled state
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
venturingverbUS /ˈventʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
precisely as stated
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading Victory seemed assured, despite the fact that Commodore Barclay carried thirty-five long guns to our fifteen; we said to ourselves that Perry would soon lay us alongside the enemy, when our smaller pieces must equalize the weight of metal.
at the time that
From this reading The unfurling of that blue banner appeared a promise to be fulfilled in the near future, and when the excitement had in a measure died away we began discussing the probable result, no one venturing to suggest that the Britishers might possibly come off best.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why every man felt confident a battle was very near at hand, I am unable to say.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Although we--and I mean the crew--had no assurance that our fleet would soon engage the enemy, every man appeared to be positive a battle was near at hand.
