used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
eagerly desirous
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
assaultnounUS /əˈsɔːlt/
close fighting during the culmination of a military attack
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
attemptingverbUS /əˈtemptɪŋ/
-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
come out better in a competition, race, or conflict
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
ebbingnounUS /ˈebɪŋ/
a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
one or the other of two
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
engage in
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
pathwaynounUS /ˈpæθweɪ/
a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
piratesnounUS /ˈpaɪrəts/
plural of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
the activity of protecting someone or something
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
repulsedverbUS /riˈpʌlst/
past form of “repulse” — force or drive back
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
a strong line
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
sharksnounUS /ʃɑːrks/
plural of “shark” — any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
SmartadjectiveUS /smɑːrt/
showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
not in physical motion
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
confined on all sides
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
in or at that place or location
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
in the direction of
From this reading Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
unexpectedlyadverbUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪdli/
in a way that was not expected
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
look attentively
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
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 Towards midnight, a sound in the water made our hearts beat.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
(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 It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Either the pirates meant to storm us at night, or Smart and the captain were attempting to join us.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Calling the girls, we set them to watch the rope ladder, which we let down on the one side, while we watched the pathway on the other.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was this which made us so anxious, for there were such a few hours in the day during which the pirates could attack us, and they had been so unexpectedly repulsed, we had but little doubt they would attempt a night assault if possible, and for this the tide now suited very well, and we could not hope that they would be ignorant of the advantage.
but in spite of that
From this reading The tide was ebbing, though our rock was still wholly surrounded by water, yet not sufficient to make the sharks any protection to us.
