used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
aboardadverbUS /əˈbɔːrd/
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
in actual fact
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
afloatadjectiveUS /əˈfloʊt/
aimlessly drifting
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
arisingverbUS /ərˈaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
boat'snounUS /boʊts/
possessive form of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
brought into existence
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
confined by bonds
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
make overcast or cloudy
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
power to direct or determine
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
convinceverbUS /kənˈvɪns/
make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
creakverbUS /kriːk/
make a high-pitched, screeching noise
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
past form of “deceive” — be false to; be dishonest with
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
echoverbUS /ˈekoʊ/
to say again or imitate
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
flapverbUS /flæp/
move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
moving swiftly
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
only a very short time before
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Yet I knew I was not deceived.
a commissioned military officer
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
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 Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
and nothing more
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
mistsnounUS /mɪsts/
plural of “mist” — a thin fog with condensation near the ground
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
northwardadverbUS /ˈnɔːrθwərd/
in a northern direction
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
on one occasion
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
pulleynounUS /ˈpʊli/
a simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
a strong line
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/
from appearances alone
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
spectraladjectiveUS /ˈspektrəl/
of or relating to a spectrum
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
a special situation
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
unanswerableadjectiveUS /ˌʌˈnænsərəbəl/
impossible to answer
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
UNMASKEDverbUS /ənˈmæskt/
past form of “unmask” — reveal the true nature of
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
having passed out of existence
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
a vivid mental image
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
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 No echo of a voice came across the water, no slight flap of sail, no distant creak of pulley, or groaning of rope--merely that fleeting vision, seemingly a phantom of imagination, a vision born from sea and cloud.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
at the time that
From this reading THE LIEUTENANT UNMASKED I had in truth hardly more than grasped the reality of the boat's presence--it seemed so spectral a thing amid the mists of the night--when it had vanished utterly once more behind the curtain of darkness.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
which person or people
From this reading Where the craft could be bound; for what secret purpose it was afloat; who were aboard, were but so many unanswerable questions arising in my mind.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading There was no sound to convince me my eyes had not deceived; that I had actually perceived a boat, flying before the wind, under complete control, and headed to the northward.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I knew I was not deceived.
