used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
a youthful male person
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
cakesnounUS /keɪks/
plural of “cake” — a block of solid substance (such as soap or wax)
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
-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 swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
a low-lying region in central France
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
despairedverbUS /dɪˈsperd/
past form of “despair” — abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
eatables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
elatedadjectiveUS /ɪˈleɪtəd/
exultantly proud and joyful; in high spirits
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
gleamedverbUS /ɡliːmd/
past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
haven't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
I've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “The boys haven’t any boat, and I’ve got the eatables.”
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
Kenneth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
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 A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
Nibs's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
PERILOUSadjectiveUS /ˈperələs/
fraught with danger
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
the act of physically reaching or thrusting out
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
moving very fast
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
thicknessnounUS /ˈθɪknəs/
the dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
three-eighths
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
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 A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “But what shall I do?” he asked himself.
at the time that
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
a Caucasian
From this reading The swift current was carrying great pieces of ice, which gleamed white against the dark stream.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A PERILOUS SITUATION Though Kenneth was elated enough when he left the centre of the city and started for the river front, his heart sank within him when he caught sight of the water.
yachtnounUS /jɑːt/
an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing
From this reading The ice cakes were close together, and as the boy thought of the scant three-eighths of an inch thickness of “His Nibs’s” sides, He despaired of reaching the yacht anchored on the other shore.
