| / English Dictionary |
ASTERN
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(of a ship or an airplane) behind
Example:
we dropped her astern on the end of a seven-inch manilla, and she laid comfortably on the ebb tide
Classified under:
Domain category:
aeroplane; airplane; plane (an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets)
ship (a vessel that carries passengers or freight)
Sense 2
Meaning:
At or near or toward the stern of a ship or tail of an airplane
Example:
the captain looked astern to see what the fuss was about
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Sense 3
Meaning:
Stern foremost or backward
Example:
the steamer went astern at half speed
Classified under:
Adverbs
Context examples:
I took a fresh hold on my bedclothes and was preparing to start on, when some movement caught my eye and I looked astern to the rail.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
But this time he missed by forty feet, the boat passing astern.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Wolf Larsen was smoking a cigar and examining the patent log which the Ghost usually towed astern, but which had been hauled in for some purpose.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
All day we sailed, and all night, and the next day, and the next, day after day, the wind always astern and blowing steadily and strong.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
“When running more freely, with the wind astern abeam, or on the quarter, it will be necessary for me to steer.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Again there was a puff of smoke and a loud report, this time the cannon-ball striking not more than twenty feet astern and glancing twice from sea to sea to windward ere it sank.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Then they were gone astern.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
I came on deck, after a good night’s rest in spite of my poor knee, to find the Ghost foaming along, wing-and-wing, and every sail drawing except the jibs, with a fresh breeze astern.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
Dead astern, sir.
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
“If I raised never a hand for that poor fool,”—pointing astern to the tiny sail,—“d’ye think I’m hungerin’ for a broken head for a woman I never laid me eyes upon before this day?”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
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