used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
assailedverbUS /əˈseɪld/
past form of “assail” — attack someone physically or emotionally
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
blocksnounUS /blɑːks/
plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
easedadjectiveUS /iːzd/
(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
divisible by two
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
the act of acquiring something
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
destroyed or killed
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
the act of departing
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
something that is lost
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
a legal document giving official permission to do something
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
slednounUS /sled/
a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
sledsnounUS /sledz/
plural of “sled” — a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
a special situation
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading First the sled on the left was torn loose; then the other followed it, leaving the car to fight its battle alone.
tossedverbUS /tɔːst/
past form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
unfortunatesnounUS /ənˈfɔːrtʃənəts/
plural of “unfortunate” — a person who suffers misfortune
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
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 As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But the loss of the sleds was a good thing now that their occupants were gone, for it eased off the weight and the car rose much higher in the water.
whirledverbUS /wɜːrld/
past form of “whirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
belonging to which person
From this reading THE CHILDREN OF THE SUN But the situation was too critical to permit us to think of the unfortunates whose death we had undoubtedly caused.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There seemed less than an even chance of our getting through with our own lives.
but in spite of that
From this reading As we tossed and whirled onward the water rose yet higher, and blocks of ice assailed us on all sides.
