Chapter VI · An Attack on the High Seas

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The captain was now standing up, his fists clenched.

closed or squeezed together tightly

From this reading The captain was now standing up, his fists clenched.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

forming an end or termination; especially putting an end to doubt or question

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

the specified day of the month

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

command with authority

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “What do you propose to do?” inquired the manager.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

plural of “fist” — a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)

From this reading The captain was now standing up, his fists clenched.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading “What do you propose to do?” inquired the manager.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

immediately past

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

someone who controls resources and expenditures

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The captain was now standing up, his fists clenched.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading “What do you propose to do?” inquired the manager.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

in or at or to some place

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

having a supporting base

From this reading The captain was now standing up, his fists clenched.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What do you propose to do?” inquired the manager.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “I should like to know first whether we are here as his guests or his prisoners.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mr. manager frowningshield took up the copy of the _Sphere_ in his hand, and gazed with troubled brow at this conclusive evidence of the date.

an affirmative

From this reading “Yes,” he said at last, “he was in England a week later than we were, and must have come direct to this spot, passing us somewhere on the way; during the night, probably.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “What do you propose to do?” inquired the manager.