used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
admonitionnounUS /ˌædməˈnɪʃən/
cautionary advice about something imminent (especially imminent danger or other unpleasantness)
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
using the voice; not silently
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
asternadverb
stern foremost or backward
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
capesnounUS /keɪps/
plural of “cape” — a strip of land projecting into a body of water
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
rid of obstructions
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
Conyngham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
droppingadjectiveUS /ˈdrɑːpɪŋ/
coming down freely under the influence of gravity
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
EnglishmannounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmən/
a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
an old word for “before”
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
firedadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪərd/
having lost your job
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
Good-bynoun
a farewell remark
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
haulverbUS /hɔːl/
draw slowly or heavily
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
immediately past
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
plural of “like” — a similar kind
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
occurring by chance
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
in other respects or ways
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
overhauledverbUS /ˈoʊvərhɔːld/
past form of “overhaul” — travel past
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
PEGGY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
pettyadjectiveUS /ˈpetiː/
inferior in rank or status
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
cut with a saw
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “I hope I’ve seen the last of the likes of you.”
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
tackverbUS /tæk/
fasten with tacks
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
taffrailnoun
the railing around the stern of a ship
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
threatnounUS /θret/
something that is a source of danger
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
tyrantnounUS /ˈtaɪrənt/
a cruel and oppressive dictator
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
a message informing of danger
From this reading The gun that the Englishman had fired had had a ring of disappointment in it, an admonition more of warning than of threat.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
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 THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
past form of “wave” — signal with the hands or nod
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Captain Conyngham, looking back over the low taffrail, waved his hand as he saw her haul her wind.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading THE VOYAGE OF THE CHARMING PEGGY It was lucky that the water was smooth and that the Charming Peggy was on her best tack, otherwise the frigate that was now dropping fast astern would have overhauled her ere she had been well clear of the capes.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Good-by to you, my petty tyrant,” he cried half aloud.
