Chapter XX

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

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

at or in the front

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

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

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

the act of waking

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

make a strident sound

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

confined by bonds

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

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

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

more quickly

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

experiencing or showing fear

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

the act of departing

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

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

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

toward home

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

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

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

becoming greater or larger

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

strong enough to knock down or overwhelm

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

above and across; more than

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

money demanded for the return of a captured person

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

on the contrary

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

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

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

move hurridly

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

express in words

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

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

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

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

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

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

From this reading Little by little she gained, and inch by inch she straightened up, in spite of the knock-down blows she got from the blast.

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

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

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

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.

at the time that

From this reading It had come to the time when it was every man for himself, and each looked for a chance to escape.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Faster and faster she slipped along, the energy of the wind driving her ahead, rather than over.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But Ransom clung to the helm, and noted, with an awakening of hope, that his boat was increasing her speed.

used when the people spoken to are both doing and receiving the action

From this reading HOMEWARD BOUND The boys did not need the captain’s cry: “Look out for yourselves, boys; she’s going over!” to tell them that they were in fearful peril.