used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/
changed in form or character without becoming something else
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
beamsnounUS /biːmz/
plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
for the reason that
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
brassnounUS /bræs/
an alloy of copper and zinc
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
cargonounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊ/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
ceilingnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋ/
the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
decksnounUS /deks/
plural of “deck” — any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/
plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
fittedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪtəd/
being the right size and shape to fit as desired
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
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 Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
languidadjectiveUS /ˈlæŋɡwəd/
lacking spirit or liveliness
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
lockernounUS /ˈlɑːkər/
a storage compartment for clothes and valuables; usually it has a lock
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
lounged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
Marston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
matchboarded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
MoisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
slackadjectiveUS /slæk/
not tense or taut
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
not in physical motion
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
in a strange manner
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Marston, however, knew this was an illusion; the beams moved but the lamp was still.
trickledverbUS /ˈtrɪkəld/
past form of “trickle” — run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
precisely as stated
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Moisture trickled down the matchboarded ceiling, big warm drops fell from the beams, and a brass lamp swung about as she rolled.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He had borne some strain and his body felt strangely slack although his brain was active.
at the time that
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE MIDDLE PASSAGE Marston lounged with languid satisfaction on a locker in the stern cabin.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading The cabin was small and very plain, because the yacht had been altered below decks when she was fitted for carrying cargo.
