used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
answersnounUS /ˈænsərz/
plural of “answer” — a statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
Christy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
feeling or showing worry or solicitude
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
recognizable; marked
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
dipverbUS /dɪp/
immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
having made preparations
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
divisible by two
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
start firing a weapon
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
guard-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
incurverbUS /ˌɪnˈkɜːr/
make oneself subject to; bring upon oneself; become liable to
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
induceverbUS /ˌɪnˈduːs/
cause to arise
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
the force of workers available
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
menaceverbUS /ˈmenəs/
pose a threat to; present a danger to
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
pilot-house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
probableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːbəbəl/
likely but not certain to be or become true or real
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
provokeverbUS /prəˈvoʊk/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
SIGNALSnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəlz/
plural of “signal” — any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The boat was doubtless full of men, and as he could not give straight answers to all the questions that might be put to him, it might provoke a fight to attempt to do so, and he decided not to incur the risk.
TeasernounUS /ˈtiːzər/
a worker who teases wool
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Even this menace did not induce the lieutenant to ring his bell to stop the engine.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But Christy was not much concerned about the situation, and he was not much disposed to give any attention to the boat.
VARIETYnounUS /vərˈaɪəti/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A VARIETY OF NIGHT SIGNALS The dip of the oars of the guard-boat could be distinctly heard in the pilot-house, and it was probable that the men in it could see the Teaser.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Stop her, or we will fire into you!" yelled the officer in charge of the guard-boat.
